Actor and former Man v Food star Adam Richman has claimed he and his crew have had their possessions stolen at a motorway services in north London.

The American presenter, 50, who is in the UK filming season two of Adam Richman Eats Britain, wrote on X their van full of filming equipment was “completely cleaned out” in less than five minutes.

He said it happened when he stopped with production staff at the London Gateway Services on the M1 in Barnet on Wednesday afternoon.

The Metropolitan Police said a report of theft had been made to them and that its officers were investigating.

Mr Richman said in the post: “All of the filming equipment is gone. Both of my suitcases with all of my possessions are gone.

“(My) backpack with my laptop and all of my medications are gone.

“And to make matters worse, because I have trackers on some of my possessions, and because of my laptop, I can see where these things are.”

Mr Richman said he was returning from Birmingham when the incident happened.

He added that “the two most valuable possessions” he had with him were taken as well: “The last birthday card I ever got from my father and a book that my mother gave me.”

In multiple posts on X, he revealed the locations where he tracked his items, including a laptop, and offered a reward for anyone who helped them be returned.

He later appeared to reverse his position, and cautioned followers. He said: “Everyone! Please do not attempt to personally intervene or find my items yourselves.

“I don’t want any harm to come to anyone!”

Mr Richman thanked people for their “outpouring of support”, adding: “When you’re alone and so far from home, it means a lot.”

He also urged people not to put themselves in harms way and that he had contacted the police.

The Met said officers were called at 14:49 BST on Wednesday to reports of a theft from a van at the M1 service station.

“Items including cameras and laptops were stolen,” it said.

The force appealed for witnesses and added no arrests had been made.

Speaking more generally, former Met Police detective Peter Bleksley told BBC London the theft of a device was often “far down the list of police priorities”.

“You should still report it because a crime reference number may help you with your insurance claim,” he said.

“I know of people who have tracked their device to a location and upon arrival been asked to pay money to retrieve it.

“You have to be very careful if you are going to try and locate it that you don’t make a bad situation worse.”