A DIGGER was stolen form a Cranborne site in the early hours of Monday morning (August 19).

Police have issued pictures of the red and black Yanmar excavator, which was taken from a property in Batterly Drove at around 1.30am.

PC Chandler Organ, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “Plant machinery thefts such as this have devastating effects on the small businesses of our rural communities.

“I am carrying out an investigation into the theft of this digger to identify those responsible and to return it to its rightful owner.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the time of the theft to please get in touch.

“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.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting incident number 55240127626. They can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.