MYSTERY surrounds the theft of expensive recording equipment — from up a TREE in Gourock moorland.

Sound recording gear valued at around £30,000 has been removed from land that runs behind Moorfoot Drive, the Tele can reveal.

People who live in the area are puzzled about why the equipment was left there in the first place.

Detective Inspector David Wagstaff of Greenock CID says an inquiry is under way into the theft, and why the apparatus was placed in the area.

DI Wagstaff said: “High value noise recording equipment, including sound level meters, had been attached to trees in an area of waste ground near Moorfoot Primary.

“It was stolen between 12.30pm on 22 October and 11.30am on Tuesday.” DI Wagstaff said the police are keen to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious happening during that period.

The entry to the piece of ground is from the Beech Place cul de sac, where residents told the Tele they were astonished to hear that such valuable equipment had been left on trees.

One resident said: “I actually saw two well-dressed guys walking in there last week carrying a stainless steel chain and a box about the size of a briefcase.

“I could see from my window that they walked about a hundred yards into the moorland, but not as far as the primary school.

“I didn’t see what they did there, but I later saw them coming out and they were empty-handed, so they obviously left behind whatever they were carrying.

“I wondered if they had been holding equipment for filming, but I’ve no idea why they would want to be recording sound on a piece of marshy moorland.

“It’s not as if there could be any sort of development in there.” He added: “Whatever their reason for being there, it seems crazy to leave such expensive gear stuck to trees!” Anyone who can help the police with inquiries is asked to call the non-emergency number 101.