Burnham-On-Sea police officers are warning farmers in the area to be on their guard after a series of farmyard thefts.
One farmer in the Mark area has lost hundreds of gallons of diesel from a farmyard tank – while others have reported tractors having their fuel lines cut and diesel tanks drained.
Vital safety equipment and fittings have been removed from agricultural equipment, and even farm gates removed from their hinges.
Burnham police are appealing for vigilance on the part of farmers to help cut the number of farm-related crimes in the area.
Sgt Roger Tolley from Burnham-On-Sea Police said: “This is an ongoing problem for farmers and we are having persistent incidents. What is being stolen is very specialist and can be massively expensive to replace.”
He encouraged farmers and contractors to take equipment back to secure locations at the end of the working day.
“It is vehicles left in isolated locations far from farms and people that are being targeted by the thieves.”
An M-registration white Ford Transit van and a distinctive brown B-registration Land Rover have been spotted in the area where thefts have taken place, and local people are being asked to keep an eye out for these and other vehicles stopped in isolated locations.
