Police have issued a warning after eight railway detonators were stolen from a van.
The detonators make a loud noise when struck by a train and are used as a signal to indicate to train drivers that they must carry out an emergency stop.
They were stolen from a van in Britford Avenue, Wigston, some time between 10pm on Friday and 3.45pm on Saturday.
Police have warned the detonators should only be used by trained professionals and are concerned they could cause injury to a member of the public who did not know what they were.
The detonators are yellow discs about two inches in diameter.
Also taken from the van was a small plastic horn and a whistle.
Inspector Claire Morgan is urging members of the public to look out for the detonators and for those in possession of them to return them to police immediately.
She said: "As the detonators are designed for trains, it would take some force to set them off. However, that doesn't mean to say it cannot be done and that someone could not be injured.
"We are doing all we can to trace the stolen detonators and hope that members of the public will help us to do that so we can keep them safe.
"If anyone thinks they have seen anything similar to the detonators described then please get in touch.
"If anyone is in possession of the detonators they should please hand them in at a local police station.
"While the injuries may not be life-threatening they could still cause harm and we are concerned that the people who have taken them have no idea what they can do.
"If anyone has any information about their whereabouts then please get in touch and help us with our enquiries."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
