A RED and black excavator was stolen in the middle of the night in Cranborne.

Dorset Police have appealed for witnesses after a red and black Yanmar excavator was stolen at around 1.30am on August 19 from a property in Batterley Drove. 

Offenders were said to have broken the lock on the property's front gate before they located and removed the tracker on the digger and left it on the floor.

Police constable Chandler Organ, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “I would also ask motorists who were driving in the areas of Cranborne, Alderholt, Fordingbridge and Verwood at the time of the incident to consider whether they witnessed any suspicious activity and to review their dashcam footage to see if they have captured anything of relevance to our investigation.

“Lastly, I would ask anyone who has seen a digger matching the one in the images for sale in suspicious circumstances to please come forward.”

The tracker lost connection to the digger at 1.30am with the digger reported to have started by bypassing the immobiliser. 

It is believed it was placed on a trailer.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240127626.

Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously online or by calling Freephone 0800 555 111.