THIEVES with an eye for luxury items made off with thousands of expensive lighters following a transport depot raid at Eastleigh.

Now police are hoping the public will be able to provide vital information which could trap the lorry raiders.

Officers are warning people to be on their guard if they are offered the designer items which carry the distinctive Yves Saint Laurent emblem.

But more importantly, they want to hear from anyone who has been approached to buy the lighters cheaply.

Pc Mike Cook said: "The thieves obviously knew just what they were going for. We think the lighters might be sold locally, but they might have already been taken away to another part of the country.

"Anyone who is approached and offered a lighter should contact us as soon as possible.

"It's possible they might turn up in pubs or at a car boot sale."

The lighters, worth more than £22,000, were in presentation packs and had only just arrived in the country from Japan.

They had been picked up from Southampton Docks and were due to be delivered to the Ronson company in Sussex. But they were stolen some time on Monday night.

A spokesman for the Eastleigh hauliers said: "Someone slashed the curtain on the side of the lorry and helped themselves to the lighters which were sealed in packs of 100."

A Southampton City Council trading standards spokesman said: "People should be wary if offered these goods. You would expect this sort of designer item to be on sale in a reputable high street shop."

The lighters, which retail at more than £22 each, were in individual presentation boxes and carried YSL in gold lettering.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Eastleigh police on 01703 335444.

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