Thieves grab £300,000 of machinery in raids

Plant machinery valued at a total of 220,000 was stolen on Sunday from a quarry on Black Hill Road in Arthington, Leeds, between 6pm and 8.45pm.

The items which taken were a Doosan front-loading shovel digger, worth 125,000, a John Deere 7530 Tractor with a registration plate DX08MPY that is valued at 75,000, and a 20,000 Bailey articulated trailer.

The thieves smashed open the metal main gate using the digger. The stolen items weigh between 25 and 40 tonnes and would need to be transported on a low-loader. It is believed they were driven off in the direction of the Adel area of Leeds.

Officers are appealing for anyone who has any information to contact the North-West Outer Neighbourhood Policing Team at Otley police station on 01274 471458.

Police are also appealing for information after road surfacing machinery worth more than 100,000 was stolen from outside a petrol station in Horsforth in a separate offence.

A 93,000 phalt paver,which lays asphalt on roads, was taken from the Shell petrol station site, in Broadway, at 7.55am on Sunday, January 10. The vehicle, which is black and has the word "Compsty" written on it in white, weighs nearly seven tonnes. Its chassis number is BGP200-13H-529 and the engine number is PE5030T014272.

Also taken was a 8,000 Bomag Tandem Roller, which is a BW120AD-4 model that has a serial number of 101880023001.

A Wallis and Stevens Tack Coat sprayer, a flatbed trailer, two gas cylinders, straps chains and cut-off plates were also taken.

Investigating officers believe the thieves would have again needed a trailer to remove the items and would have probably had to block the road.

The victim of this theft is offering a 5,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the stolen items.

Anyone who saw the items being taken or has any information on their whereabouts is asked to contact Pc1764 Laura Jackson at Horsforth police station via 0845 6060606 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.