Over £20,000 worth of equipment has been stolen from SRUC Oatridge after three thieves attacked the property. In the early hours of December 4, a quad bike, trailer, welder, and a range of hand tools were taken from the farm workshop.

SRUC farm director George Baikie said, “We know there were three thieves as we saw the footprints in the snow. The worrying thing is, it was clearly a premeditated theft as they brought tools for the job. A gas-cutting torch was used to gain access to the shed and to cut through the bike clamp. The clamp is made of 8mm thick steel, and they managed to cut through with the torch. It got so hot we could see the quad wheel go on fire.

“The thieves couldn’t get past the straw bedder, so they used the gas torch again and cut the end off the machine, causing yet more damage. The bike trailer was then loaded up with tools from the workshop before they fled. The fear is they clearly scouted out the area first, and now the thieves could come back again; they knew what they were doing. The theft has made work on the farm all the harder this winter.”

The police, forensic officers, and a community officer all visited the scene within hours of the theft. The ATV was being used every day checking and feeding the 300 pregnant ewes on the farm which are due to lamb in February. Anyone who may have information on the theft is encouraged to contact the police.