Farm thieves target older tractors and Land Rovers

Rural thieves are targeting older tractors and Land Rovers amid widespread reports these vehicles are being stolen from UK farms.

Police forces across the UK have been reporting a number of cases of older farm machinery going missing from farms.

Advances in tractor technology has meant thieves are switching their attention to older farm vehicles, which are often shipped abroad for resale in developing countries, according to rural insurer NFU Mutual.

See also: How to stop thieves stealing your Land Rover

Police are urging farmers to stay vigilant and take extra care of their farm vehicles and equipment.

Officers investigating a number of tractor and Land Rover thefts have appealed for information to track those responsible.

In Dorset, a Blue Holland T50/60 tractor, registration HF11 FSS, fitted with a Quicke Q45 front-end loader, was stolen from a farm near Halstock overnight on 24 February.

**Stolen Tractor** #NewHolland T50/60 HF11 FSS has been stolen from a farm near #Halstock #Dorset https://t.co/353aX9hNoR pic.twitter.com/6OId0X9niA

— Dorset Police Rural Crime Team (@RuralCrimeTeam) March 3, 2017

Thieves rammed the tractor through a padlocked metal farm gate and headed southbound towards Winyards Gap on the A358 road.

In Wiltshire, a Kubota tractor was stolen from a farm in Warminster on 6 March.

THEFT ALERT – Kubota Tractor stolen from Warminster Wilts today – VIN NUMBER B182030769 Police Ref – 0153 06032017 @wiltshirepolice ?

— The Equipment Register (TER) (@TER_Europe) March 6, 2017

In the West Midlands, a Land Rover Defender, registration T430 LBU, was stolen from New Road, in Astwood Bank, on Sunday 12 March.

https://twitter.com/WMidsAlerts/status/841041107840581632

BBC One Show resident farming presenter Kate Beavan, who appeared on Lambing Live, tweeted that a white-and-brown David Brown 789 tractor had been stolen from the Monmouth area over the weekend of 6 March.

White and brown DAVID BROWN 789 tractor stolen from Monmouth over the weekend, reg number APR68. Mint condition, quite distinct #RuralCrime

— Kate Beavan (@KateBeavan) March 6, 2017

Meanwhile, Police Scotland is investigating a double farm machinery theft in the Dunblane area of Perthshire.

A red Honda quad bike was stolen from a farm in Braco, near Dunblane, overnight on Friday 10 March.

A few hours later, a JCB telehandler and a red Zetor tractor were stolen from a farm in Greenloaning, near Dunblane, in the early hours of Saturday 11 March.

Police recovered the JCB just a few hundred yards away, but they are still searching for the Zetor tractor.

Anyone with information on any of these thefts should call police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.