Police investigating series of farm thefts on Powys border

West Mercia Police have said their officers are investigating five separate raids on farms across the area near Bishop’s Castle.

Police have confirmed that they are investigating multiple thefts from properties in Colebatch, Lower Heblands, Bankshead, Lydham and Diddlebury.

The thieves took farm vehicles, motorcycles, tools as well as chainsaws and hedgecutters over a two-night span last week between Monday, November 13, and Tuesday, November 14.

An investigating officer confirmed that West Mercia Police are currently still investigating forensic evidence and that enquiries are still ongoing.

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According to local police forces, the thefts in Colebatch saw “a trailer, hedge cutter, chainsaws and compressor stolen from outbuildings” whilst in Lydham “a workshop was entered on a farm where tools and a yellow Gas Gas txt 125 motorbike was stolen”.

In Bankshead a Polaris Ranger ATV was stolen from farm outbuildings whilst Lower Heblands a Kioti Mechron ATV was taken by thieves however both have now been recovered by police.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “We received reports of burglaries of farms in Colebatch, Lower Heblands, Bankshead, Lydham and Diddlebury that occurred overnight 13–14 November.

“A variety of farm tools had been taken. Enquiries and forensics investigations are ongoing.”

West Mercia Police are encouraging anyone who may have information or CCTV that may be helpful to their enquiries to get in touch.

Police have said that anyone with any information that could be helpful to their enquiries to get in contact by ringing 101 quoting 0056_i_14112023 or emailing bccar.snt@westmercia.police.uk