Royal Navy sailors arrested on suspicion of stealing laptops and iPads from shop on US base to sell on
A GROUP of Royal Navy sailors have been arrested on suspicion of stealing laptops and iPads from a shop on a US base to sell on.
The enlisted servicemen were marched off British ship HMS Middleton in handcuffs as part of the joint UK and US probe.
They are suspected of using security alarm proof bags to pinch high value tech from the Main Navy Exchange — a duty-free store on a US base in Bahrain.
The group, believed to include a chef and a communications officer, allegedly sold the stolen goods at less than half the retail price to others in the Middle East.
A source said: “Some were arrested by American armed military police when they were caught taking items out of the American shops on the base.
“Military police took the rest of the lads off the ship in cuffs.
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“Bags of evidence were taken.
“It looked like they stole anything that wasn’t locked down — iPads, laptops, computer games.
“They had put the word out that if anyone wanted anything, they would get it and charge less than 50 per cent of the cost.”
The group of around seven sailors were arrested in January and were later believed to have been taken to Colchester’s military prison in Essex.
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A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We are aware of an alleged incident which is under investigation.
“As this is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further or provide a timeline to when a conclusion can be provided.”