New Forest Police are warning residents that farm equipment and plant machinery theft is on the rise in the area after tracking down a stolen vehicle that was found in Marchwood.

Officers were able to track down an all-terrain vehicle, that is commonly used by farmers, that was stolen from an address in Longstock, Hampshire during a burglary.

The police are now warning New Forest residents that safety features should be fitted on expensive farm equipment and other off road type vehicles – that are commonly targeted by thieves.

Officers from the New Forest Priority Crime Team were able to recover this all terrain vehicle due to it having a tracker.

Police were able to locate the all-terrain vehicle that was concealed in undergrowth in a rural location near Marchwood.

The police have stated that with the help of a tracking device, fitted to the vehicle, they can easily find stolen vehicles and prosecute thieves who are caught.

Posting the incident to Facebook, an officer involved in the recovery of the all-terrain vehicle said: “Farm equipment and plant machinery can be incredibly expensive and attractive to thieves as they are highly sought after.

“The New Forest has sadly seen an increase in this type of equipment being stolen.

“We would recommend, where possibly, for owners to fit tracking devices to their equipment.

“Not only can this assist police in recovering stolen property but can also provide lines of enquiry to identify offenders.”