Thieves steal tools worth £10,000 from Aberdeenshire farm

Farmers have been told to review their security in light of the thefts
Farmers have been told to review their security in light of the thefts

Agricultural equipment and tools worth more than £10,000 have been stolen from an Aberdeenshire farm.

Thieves stole four automatic guidance systems from locked tractors and the tools from a farm in the Carnousie area of Turriff.

Farmers and rural residents in the area have now been urged by the police to review their security.

The incident happened overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday (26/26 March) between 11pm and 6am.

PC Ian Bain said the theft is a 'great loss' to the farmer: “The ‘Trimble’ guidance systems and power tools stolen have a collective value of a low five-figure sum of money,” he said.

“Simple measures can help prevent you becoming a victim of crime and help you if you do such as removing any valuables from vehicles and storing them safely, parking tractors or vehicles in a secure locked area if possible and using property marking kits.

“I would also urge farmers and rural residents to review their security,” he said.

Statistics show that rural crime cost the UK £44.5m in 2017, with the future trend showing a rise in this form of crime as thieves become more “brazen” as they target the countryside.

Police Scotland are appealing to anyone with information or who witnessed anything unusual or suspicious in the area to contact on 101 using reference number CF0073060319.