A dumper truck worth £26,000 has been stolen from rural farmland in Moray.
The yellow Thwaites forward-dumping digger was taken from a wind farm at Newton Of Edingight in the Grange area.
Police are investigating the theft, believe the six tonne piece of machinery – registration plate SF64 OKG – was taken some time between 10am on Monday, September 28, and 5pm on Wednesday, September 30.
The vehicle had been on hire at the fledgling one-turbine site for several weeks as part of ongoing building work carried out by windmill owners, AGR group.
Although work continues at the site about eight miles north-east of Keith, the turbine itself was completed in mid-September.
Investigating officer Constable Rory Fraser said: “We are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or unusual in the area to contact us.
“We’d also like to hear from anyone who may have been offered the digger for sale.
“We would also like to remind those living and working in rural areas that simple steps can be taken to deter thieves.
“These include locking, securing and alarming their property and taking advantage of crime prevention measures such as lighting, security marking and monitoring services.”
Yesterday, a nearby neighbour said he remembered noticing the dumper was missing on Monday, September 28, whilst tending to animals.
The farmer, who wished not to be named, said: “With the turbine going up, there has been lorries and trucks and diggers coming and going all the time here, so we wouldn’t have noticed anyone driving something they shouldn’t be even if we had seen them, I don’t think.
“You could hardly stop everyone and ask them who they are and for identification.”
Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.