Security plea as machinery thefts rise

The warning comes following recent thefts in the Boroughbridge, Malton and Scarborough area and the recovery of 200,000 of stolen machinery near Selby.

A warrant was executed at commercial premises on Old Great North Road, Brotherton, where officers found three stolen tractors – one taken from Great Heck and two stolen from Holme-on-Spalding Moor.

Police also recovered a flat-bed truck suspected of transporting the vehicles and a Taishan Scooter reported stolen in 2008.

Two men were arrested in connection, one aged 44 from the Goole area and the other aged 70 from Knottingley.

Chief Superintendent Alison Higgins said: "This type of crime costs businesses millions of pounds a year.

"We have a robust operation in place to combat this growing trend and bring those responsible to justice.

"However, owners of machinery must take every precaution they can to help keep their property secure. These are valuable business assets and their loss can greatly affect a business's continuity and service."

In separate incidents, thieves broke into the Highways Department depot near Boroughbridge overnight between Tuesday and yesterday and escaped with a JCB forklift truck.

A tractor and trailer loaded with rapeseed oil were also reported stolen from Garth End Road in West Ayton near Scarborough. The theft occurred overnight between Monday and Tuesday.

Two concrete mixer trucks were also stolen from the Whitewall quarry in Norton, near Malton, overnight between Monday and Tuesday.