Police have arrested seven people from Limburg and Oost-Brabant suspected of carrying out a spate of garden tool thefts across the country over the past two years.

The seven, who range in age from 27 to 58, are said to have focused on stealing expensive lawn mowers, tools and sprinkler installations.

‘At first they would ring the doorbell of a house,’ police said in a statement. ‘If there was someone at home, they would ask a question or if the occupants had any old iron. If there was no-one in, they would steal expensive equipment from sheds and garages.’

The gang cleaned the equipment, put new stickers on it and sold it on, recouping thousands of euros, police said.

During a string of raids earlier in the week as part of the investigation, police seized tens of thousands of euros as well as a stolen caravan, which has now been returned to its owner.