Police have warned against the “reckless behaviour” seen by youths breaking into a farm and lighting fire.
There have been multiple occasions between January 3 and January 19 where officers have been called about young people breaking into Woodoaks Farm, off Denham Way in Maple Cross.
According to police, the youths are said to have broken into an area containing hay bales, before climbing the bales and throwing some to the ground.
More recently on January 19, there were reports of young people smoking inside the Dutch barn, which is used to store hay.
Although police could not find anyone after they arrived, there were scorch marks seen which indicated a small fire was lit.
PC Christian Gottmann, from Rickmansworth Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “During the trespassing glass was broken and left in the hay bales.
"This has caused significant financial impact for the farmer, as the bales cannot be used due to the glass potentially causing injury to livestock.
"The bales are also heavy and could have caused significant injury if they had landed on a person.”
He warned that there could be “serious injury” to those trespassing, as well as animals on the farm.
PC Gottmann added: “The reckless behaviour of those trespassing has the potential to fatally harm both the suspects and the farmers, in addition to financial consequences.”
Anyone with information is asked to email: christian.gottmann@herts.police.uk or report information at herts.police.uk/report or calling 101, quoting crime reference 41/2359/22.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here