Police are investigating the theft of an off-road buggy that was found in woodland within hours of being stolen.

The Kubota RTVX900 agricultural buggy was stolen from a shed overnight between Friday, November 29 and Saturday, November 30, at Forcett Hall, Richmondshire.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said through joint work with Durham Constabulary, officers from Richmond Neighbourhood Policing Team found the vehicle in a remote wooded area on the outskirts of Darlington within six hours of the initial report.

The vehicle has been recovered for forensic examination by Crime Scene Investigators.

Neighbourhood Policing constable, PC Alex Wilkinson said: “Officers from Richmond Neighbourhood Policing Team take this crime very seriously and we will continue to work proactively to deter, detect, and disrupt this type of criminality.

(Image: North Yorkshire Police)

"As a Neighbourhood Policing Team we are working very closely with our colleagues across the border in Durham Constabulary, the Rural Watch volunteers, our Rural Task Force, and other agencies to cripple the crime gangs that think that Richmondshire is an easy target.

“This is a message to them, we are not an easy target and we will be knocking at their doors very soon. North Yorkshire Police is dedicated to tackling cross border crime and protecting our border regions.

"These criminals have to be lucky every time but we just have to be lucky once, with our luck being backed up by intelligence and good old-fashioned police work."

Police are appealing for anyone with information, CCTV, or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation to email alex.wilkinson@northyorkshire.police.uk, call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option two and ask for PC 589 Alex Wilkinson, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

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