Five stolen mini diggers have been recovered by South Yorkshire police amid a crackdown on organised plant machinery theft. The haul was uncovered following tracker alerts and reports of stolen equipment being transported into the region.
Tracked and Trapped: How Police Nabbed the Thieves
On 16 November, officers from the Roads Policing Proactive Team acted on tracker signals detecting stolen mini diggers moving from Nottinghamshire into South Yorkshire. Two suspicious HGVs were later found parked at separate locations in Wath and Bolton-upon-Dearne.
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The lorry in Bolton-upon-Dearne had false number plates and visible damage. Inside, officers discovered three stolen mini diggers. Another two were recovered from the second HGV in Wath.
Dangerous Driving and A Dead Giveaway
The vehicle carrying the diggers was a nightmare on wheels. It bore a ‘74’ registration plate that didn’t match its condition, had its roof chopped off to fit the machines, and looked grossly overloaded. Police say other HGV drivers likely spotted excavator arms sticking out well above the vehicle’s height.
