Tractors and vehicles stolen in £100,000 robbery at Wincanton racecourse

More than £100,000 in machinery, tools and equipment including farm vehicles has been stolen in a burglary at Wincanton racecourse.

Police are appealing for witnesses after two lawnmowers, a John Deere Gator and a number of electrical tools were taken from a shed near the racecourse stables at around midnight on November 22.

One tractor was found abandoned in a nearby field shortly after the incident and has been used to take forensic evidence from by Avon and Somerset Police. A Gator was also recovered on Thursday after being dumped in nearby Sherborne on land owned by Jack Tizzard, the uncle of trainer Joe.

Wincanton was still able to race on Thursday but the lack of access to the equipment will be a challenge for the course with waiting lists for large tractors at around a year and a half or longer.

'It's well over £100,000, easily'

Racecourse manager Jack Parkinson said: "We're working with the police now, trying to get some forensics and work it out. Where it goes from there is in their hands. It's well over £100,000, easily.

"Insurance will cover the majority but the biggest issue for us is the waiting time on some of these vehicles. That's where we might struggle a bit. Things like tractors take 18 months to two years so we're going to need to hire in a lot of machinery.

"We've still got one mower out there that can do multiple jobs and with it being winter, it's not cutting huge amounts.

"It hasn't cost us too much at the moment. It's more tidying up which has been affected, things like leafblowers were taken. In terms of the course and track, we've coped."

Avon and Somerset police released a statement on Thursday that said: "We're appealing for the public's help after a high-value burglary at Wincanton racecourse.

"Officers are investigating after two John Deere lawn mowers, one John Deere gator and a large quantity of Stihl power tools, hedge trimmers, strimmers and blowers were taken on Tuesday, November 22 between midnight and 12.30am.

"We're now asking for the public's help to locate the stolen items. They are also appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the area or live nearby and may have seen or heard anything suspicious.

"If you have any information which could aid the investigation, please contact 101 and quote reference number 5222280307."

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