Over the past few months, the whole county, including Sevenoaks has been impacted by several incidents of plant machinery and power tool thefts, so I am pleased to report that arrests have been made and more than £100,000 worth of stolen plant machinery recovered as part of an ongoing investigation by Rural Task Force officers.

One of the recovered excavators

The stolen property was recovered from sites on the Isle of Sheppey and Marden near Maidstone.

The machines had been reported stolen between December 2023 and March 2024 from Wrotham.

During the investigation officers also recovered a large trailer which had been reported stolen from Lower Stoke, near Hoo, in July 2023, and a digger which was alleged to have been stolen from a site in London in December 2022.

Officers have so far recovered three excavators, three trailers and numerous power tools.

Arrest

As part of the investigation a 34-year-old man from Coxheath was arrested on 28 March 2024 and a 40-year-old man from Gillingham was arrested on 6 April.

They have since been released on bail until 25 and 27 June respectively.

On the morning of Thursday 25 April a 35-year-old man from Gillingham was arrested in connection with the investigation.

Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne, of Kent Police’s Rural Task Force said: ‘We have recovered a significant number of plant machinery and believe there may be more stolen machines linked to this investigation.

‘We would encourage anyone who believes they have information to get in touch with us as it may assist our investigation going forward.’

Anyone with information can call Kent Police on 01634 792209 quoting crime reference 46/50252/2

Crimestoppers

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete their online form.