Police trace £20k stolen digger behind mud mound

Stolen construction equipment, including a £20,000 digger found behind a large mound of mud, has been recovered by police.

Essex Police said officers from its rural engagement team had located construction vehicles in Cold Norton and Norton Heath.

A digger found in Cold Norton had been stolen on 15 May from Hutton and a trailer valued at £4,500 was identified as having been stolen from Rochford at the same time.

A spokesperson said a JCB telehandler was found in Norton Heath on Monday using tracking data, local intelligence and specialist knowledge, four days after it was stolen from a construction site in Roxwell.

The force said the vehicles would undergo forensic examination and inquiries into the thefts were ongoing.

"All owners have been informed and, needless to say, they are delighted they will be getting their property back."

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