COMMUNITY leaders have branded thieves despicable after hundreds of pairs of military boots destined for soldiers in Afghanistan were stolen from a lorry.

Thieves cut the side curtain of the vehicle transporting the desert-style boots to the UK from Germany and stole 337 pairs worth £31,000.

The articulated lorry was parked in Jugglers Close, near the M40 north east of Banbury, when the thieves broke some time on the night of Sunday, February 6, and the following morning, while the driver was asleep.

Community leaders and members of the Royal British Legion fear the theft could put the lives of British soldiers at risk.

Kieron Mallon, leader of Banbury Town Council, said: “If this was either an opportunist or planned theft the consequences for British troops on the ground are evident to all.

“These despicable acts could put the effectiveness and the lives of soldiers at risk and I would urge anyone with information to contact police.

“I expect it would have been a gang from outside the area who may well have known the logistical movements of this equipment.”

Deputy chairman of Oxfordshire Royal British Legion and war veteran Jim Lewendon said: “They are absolute low life.

“I can’t believe it. I don’t know what to say. What on earth is happening to our society?

“I hope they didn’t realise what they were stealing.”

No arrests have been made, but officers believe a minimum of four people would have been involved.

Det Sgt Gavin Collier, from the Banbury Priority Crime Team urged people to keep an eye out for boots at market stalls and on the Internet.

He said: “The boxes where on pallets and had the manufacturers name Lowa stamped on top of the box. It doesn’t appear to be targeted because of what’s been carried.”

Police said not all the cargo was stolen and the boots ranged in size from eight to 11.

The MOD described the theft as a “drop in the ocean” compared to the 70,000 pairs of boots they buy every year.

Ralf Dunn, from the Ministry of Defence, said the boots had not been delivered to the MOD so were not its property at the time of the theft. However, he said: “Any theft of goods is deplorable.”

l Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 quoting crime reference number JA3765581/11 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.