Around £1,000 worth of damage was caused to a tractor in Maple Cross as thieves tried to steal equipment from it.

Hertfordshire Constabulary says thieves targeted the vehicle overnight between Wednesday, December 29 and Thursday, December 30.

It is believed they were attempting to remove the satellite receiver.

While unsuccessful, the tractor’s bodywork suffered dents and scratches as a result.

Then overnight between Thursday, December 30 and Friday, December 31, four additional incidents were reported in Sarratt where a trailer, a mini digger and power tools had been stolen.

The Three Rivers Safer Neighbourhood Team is now urging the rural community to be vigilant.

PC Christian Gottmann, a Rural and Wildlife Crime Officer, said: “The equipment has since been removed from the tractor as a crime prevention measure, but we’d like to warn the rural community of these incidents so they can take further precautions to protect their property by locking items away securely.

“We are investigating these incidents and appeal to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the Denham Way area of Maple Cross, or the village of Sarratt, overnight between the dates stated to come forward and speak to us. In the meantime, we will be increasing our patrols of these areas as a reassurance measure.”

If you have information, you can email PC Gottmann at christian.gottmann@herts.police.uk, report information at herts.police.uk/report or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 41/102207/21.