POLICE in mid Suffolk today have an unlikely new candidate at the top of their most wanted list.Officers have launched an amnesty to try and get their hands on the new hot property among thieves - traffic cones.

POLICE in mid Suffolk today have an unlikely new candidate at the top of their most wanted list.

Officers have launched an amnesty to try and get their hands on the new hot property among thieves - traffic cones.

A no-questions-asked cone amnesty has started in the district giving people the chance to return them without a ticking-off.

Police say students who have them stashed in their bedrooms after drunken nights and householders who have forgotten to return them from their sheds and garages can now drop them off at police stations.

Theresa Jones, community watch liaison officer for mid Suffolk, said: “We know cones make great souvenirs after a drunken night out but they really aren't of any use to anyone else and we would like them returned.

“A lot of the missing ones are down to pranksters but there are people who might put them outside their house while they are waiting for a skip to arrive and then don't think to let us have them back.

“I've no idea of how many we lose every year, it's quite a lot.

“What we are really hoping to get back are the 'no waiting' cones used to manage traffic at events, but any that have fallen into the wrong hands are welcome.

“We aren't hopeful we will get many back, but any will be helpful and gratefully received.”

Anyone wanting to return a traffic cones can take them to the police stations Stowmarket, Elmswell, Eye or Debenham.

You can also contact the crime reduction office on 01473 383388 to arrange to have them collected.

WEBLINKS:

www.suffolk.police.uk/neighbourhoodwatch

www.trafficcone.com