Kent farm searched in hunt for depot raiders

Detectives investigating Britain's biggest cash robbery are searching a Kent farm in the pursuit of the £53 million-plus that…

Detectives investigating Britain's biggest cash robbery are searching a Kent farm in the pursuit of the £53 million-plus that was stolen from a security depot in Tonbridge last week.

Officers are believed to be searching several buildings at the large property where dozens of vehicles are parked.

Police outside at a farm in Kent where they are investigating Britain's biggest cash robbery
Police outside at a farm in Kent where they are investigating Britain's biggest cash robbery

Earlier police set up road checks at key sites across the county that have been linked to the audacious robbery.

They also released photographs of a Volvo similar to the one used by two bogus policeman to kidnap depot manager Colin Dixon last Tuesday evening on the A249 near Stockbury, and a silver Nissan Almera similar to the one driven by Mr Dixon that night.

READ MORE

Officers have confirmed that five arrests have been made since Sunday afternoon in connection with the robbery, in addition to the six people bailed last week.

In total, four of the five men arrested were detained in "pre-planned firearms operations", Kent Police said.

The gang, said to be six-strong, kidnapped Mr Dixon (51) and held his wife, Lynn (45) and nine-year-old son Craig hostage.

They were then left tied up along with 14 other workers at the site as the robbers fled with £53,116,760 - more than double the amount taken in the raid at the Northern Bank's Belfast headquarters in December 2004.

One of the men questioned over the robbery was former judo champion Chris Bowles (49).

On the website of his Tunbridge Wells-based company, Bushido Judo, Mr Bowles said he represented Britain at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and was a European and British champion.

Speaking from his home today, Mr Bowles said: "I'm in a really difficult situation and I'm not prepared to comment at this stage other than the fact that I am helping police with their inquiries. As time goes on more will be revealed."