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BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION AFTER THEFT OF TICKET MACHINE ^ BRISTOL / GLOUCESTER

British Transport Police (BTP) officers are appealing for the public^s help to identify a man they would like to speak to in connection with the theft of a portable rail ticket machine.

Officers have today released a CCTV image of the man they believe will have information which can assist the investigation.

The machine was taken from the area next to the ticket barriers at Bristol Temple Meads on Sunday 21 November 2010 and was handed in staff at Gloucester railway station on Friday 7 January 2011.

PC David Richardson-Aitken, investigating officer, said: ^At about 5.15pm on Sunday 21 November, a member of staff placed the ticket machine on a desk which staff use near to the ticket barriers at Bristol Temple Meads railway station. A short while later, she went to retrieve the machine and realised it was missing from the desk. On 7 January, the ticket machine was handed into members of staff at Gloucester railway station.

"Officers have viewed CCTV images and would like to identify and speak to the man in this photograph as we believe he will have information which can assist us. I would ask anyone who recognises him to contact British Transport Police straight away."

Anyone with information should contact BTP on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference B7/WWA of 02/02/2011, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.