COMPUTER equipment to the value of £500,000 was stolen from an Alton business premises last week, after an employee of the company was abducted by thieves from her home address in Guildford.

Police are appealing for witnesses after thieves bound and gagged the woman and placed a covering over her head, before driving her to her workplace in Alton, from where they stole more than half-a-million pounds worth of computer equipment.

The 30-year-old woman had returned home from a meal out with friends in Guildford just after midnight on Wednesday last week. As she went into her house in Guildford's Weyside Road, she was grabbed from behind and forced to the floor.

A man then asked for the keys to her workplace, which she handed over. She was then tied up and gagged, and forced into a van waiting outside.

The van has been described as a white or silver Transit-type van, which could also have possibly been a Mercedes Sprinter van, with a silver or grey interior. It is believed that three men were involved in the abduction.

Between 30 minutes to an hour later, the van arrived at Pyramid Ltd, a computer supply company in Alton's Mill Lane. The woman was forced to spend around three hours in the warehouse while the men selected various computers, valued at over £500,000, which they loaded on to two lorries using a forklift truck.

They then drove off, leaving the woman behind. She eventually managed to free herself and report the incident to Hampshire Police. The woman did not suffer any injuries as a result of the incident.

Police have issued descriptions of the three men involved in the abduction. The man who spoke to the woman most, including asking for the keys to the warehouse, is described as black, aged between 25 and 30 years, six feet 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, five feet six inches tall, of medium build, wearing dark trousers, a long-sleeved hooded top and a balaclava. He, too, spoke with a London accent.

The third man was white, five feet 10 inches tall and of medium build, 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 balaclava.

Detective Chief Inspector Brian Marjoram, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a very frightening experience for the young woman concerned. Thankfully, incidents of this nature are extremely rare in this area.

"However, I would ask anyone working for companies dealing with attractive, high value goods such as computer equipment or jewellery, to look at their personal and business security. Be aware of what is happening around you and look out for cars which may be following you."

He continued: "We need the public's help to solve this crime. We are interested in any sightings of a white or silver van around the Bellfields area of 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."

DCI Marjoram added: "We 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."

Police are appealing for anyone who saw a white van or anything suspicious in Weyside Road around midnight on the night in question, or anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area of Mill Lane between 1 am and 4 am, to contact the Major Incident Room at Guildford Police Station on 01483 653930, quoting Operation Dolphin.