Police are urging rural residents to be vigilant after cattle hurdles and farm gates were stolen.
Dorset Police’s rural crime team have had three separate crimes reported over the past few days in the Marshwood Vale area.
A police spokesman said: “Please lock up all unused gates and hurdles, mark them with paint or weld the farm postcode on them.
“Remove them from view of main roads and areas where the public have access. Cap hinges of Field gates to prevent the removal of the gate.“
In March, farmers were warned to be extra vigilant after eight 12ft-wide steel gates were stolen from farms in Newport, Pembrokeshire and Cardigan in Ceredigion, Wales.
Sgt Gareth Jones said the thefts were probably pre-planned due to the size of the gates.
He urged residents to be extra vigilant of suspicious behaviour around farms.
Scrap metal dealers are also asked to call the police if anyone tries to sell them the gates.
Sgt Jones said: "The loss of equipment, metal and livestock may not be noticed immediately, and its detection can often be difficult and it has an impact on people's livelihoods."
