property worth more than £86,000 has been stolen from Greater Manchester Police in the last five years, new figures reveal.

It is the highest amount stolen from any police force in the country, a Freedom of Information request showed.

Items taken include a £10,000 patrol vehicle stolen in 2009, and a private vehicle worth £30,000 which was taken from a secure compound.

Bizarre items stolen include an A to Z of Rochdale pinched from inside a police car.

Across the country, forces have seen handcuffs, uniforms, speed guns, dogs, dozens of warrant cards, several bikes, riot shields, a door battering ram and breathalysers stolen.

The FOI request also reveals that many of the incidents were opportunist, with thieves taking advantage of property such as police equipment, mobile phones or computers being left unattended.

Lynne Potts, assistant chief officer for Greater Manchester Police, said: “All reports of loss or theft of property from police stations or vehicles are fully investigated.

Greater Manchester Police takes all such reports seriously and we make appropriate inquiries for the return of items, and where offenders are identified we ensure they are brought to justice.

”Measures are in place for the security of property, equipment and vehicles across all of our police stations.”

The TaxPayers’ Alliance called for an investigation into the figures.

Campaign director Emma Boon said: “The list of stolen items is truly astonishing and taxpayers will worry that police giving out crime prevention advice can’t seem to avoid being robbed themselves.

“Thefts from forces cost taxpayers money and all this equipment adds up to a big bill that could be reduced. There must be a full investigation into what has happened to these items as in some instances it seems that security has been compromised at police stations.

“At a time when money is tight police can’t afford for expensive kit to just disappear.