Property worth more than £1,000 was stolen in a year from Essex police stations.

Goods ranging from a £300 mobile phone to an antiques book are unaccounted for, and 11 of the 16 thefts went undetected.

The list of internal crimes in 2006 was disclosed by Essex Police bosses after a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

Five mobile phones were stolen and police only caught the culprits on two occasions.

Bulky items smuggled out of stations across the county included a radio and CD player worth £50, a £40 police fleece jacket, three fluorescent jackets and a pair of size nine boots.

An Association of Chief Police Officers spokesman said: "To put it into context, more police stations than ever are open and there has been heavy investment in up-to-date equipment."

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