POLICE have issued a photograph of a pallet loader left behind at the scene of a robbery from a computer warehouse in Alton, following the abduction of a female employee from her home in Guildford on August 13.

The orange Bulli pallet loader was left behind in the warehouse following the theft of more than £500,000 worth of computer equipment from Pyramid Ltd, a computer supply company in Mill Lane. It does not belong to the company and police have released a picture in the hope that someone might know where it has come from.

The robbery took place after a 30-year-old female employee was abducted from her home in Guildford just before midnight on August 13. She had returned to her house in Weyside Road, Guildford, after a meal out with friends, when she was grabbed from behind and forced to the floor.

A man asked for the keys to her workplace, which she handed over. She was then tied up and gagged and some type of covering placed over her head, before being forced into a white or silver van, which was waiting outside. The van is described as a transit-type van, which might include a Mercedes Sprinter van. It is also described as having a silver or grey interior.

Between 30 minutes to an hour later, the van arrived at Pyramid Ltd and the woman was forced to spend around two hours in the warehouse while the men selected various computers, valued at more than £500,000. These were then loaded onto two lorries using a forklift truck. The woman eventually managed to free herself before reporting the incident to Hampshire Police. She did not suffer any injuries as a result of the incident.

It is believed three men were involved in the abduction of the woman. The man who spoke to the woman the most, including asking for the keys to the warehouse, is described as black, aged 25-30 years, 6ft tall, and of a slim build with muscular arms.

He was wearing grey jogging trousers, trainers with orange or red markings, a light blue t-shirt, a dark-coloured balaclava and grey gloves. He spoke with a London accent.

A second man is described as black, 5 ft 6 ins, medium build and was wearing dark trousers, a long-sleeved hooded top and a balaclava. He also spoke with a London accent.

A third man is described as white, 5 ft 10 ins, medium build and was wearing a blue v-necked jumper, dark trousers, leather gloves and a balaclava.

Up to four further men were involved in the theft of the computer equipment. One man, who drove the forklift truck, is described as slim with a prominent nose and was wearing a peaked cap and a balaclava.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Marjoram, who is leading the investigation, said: ÒWe are hoping that someone might recognise this pallet loader and may know where it has come from. This information would greatly assist our investigation into this incident.

ÒWe need the publicÕs help to solve this crime. We are interested in any sightings of a white or silver van around the Bellfields area in Guildford on the evening of Wednesday, August 13, or in Alton in the early hours of Thursday, August 14. There may have been a car travelling in convoy with this van.Ó

DCI Marjoram added: ÒWe are also appealing to anyone who has been offered Compaq Evo N610, N800 or N1015 notebook computers or Compaq flat screen monitors at reduced prices, or anyone who has been contacted to obtain prices on these items, to come forward.Ó

Anyone who saw the van, or anything suspicious in Weyside Road or the Bellfields estate between 10 pm and midnight on Wednesday, August 13, or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Mill Lane area of Alton, between 1 am and 4 am on Thursday, August 14, should contact the major incident room at Guildford police station on 01483 653930, quoting Operation Dolphin.

Witnesses can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, if they have information about the crime but donÕt want to leave their name.