POLICE suspect that an organised gang may be behind a spate of tractor thefts in the Wisbech area, after four Massey Ferguson machines went missing in a week.

Insp Mick Bates from Downham Market said: “This is too much of a coincidence. We think this is an organised gang, and one theory is that the tractors are being shipped abroad.

“We know a number of tractors and cars are taken abroad, and have alerted the ports to be on the look out.”

A vintage tractor was stolen from a barn at St John’s Fen End on Wednesday February 13; and a tractor was taken from a field in Old Church Road, Terrington St John overnight between February 7-8.

A third tractor was stolen overnight between February 5-6, at Green Lane in Wisbech.

Thieves loaded up a tractor and trailer with tools at a horticultural nursery in Wisbech Road at Outwell between February 9 and 11, but abandoned them when the tractor failed to start. Instead, they stole another tractor.

Insp Bates said: “I would urge farmers to take all the security measures they can with their tractors. Never leave the keys in the ignition, and keep them out of sight if possible.

“We want farmers to let us know if they see any suspicious activity on their farm, we are interested in any sort of intelligence.”