A pick-up truck has been stolen from a farm near Bridport writes Jennifer Mulcahey.

Dorset Police Rural Crime Team is urging the public to be on the lookout for a black Mitsubishi L200 pick-up.

The stolen truck was bearing the registration HJ60PGU and was fitted with an Ifor Williams canopy on the rear and was also fitted with an orange tow bar.

The vehicle was stolen some time between 11pm on Monday, February 17, and 6.50am on Tuesday, February 18.

Anyone with information can contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting crime number 55200025620. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org

Police are reminding people to consider the following advice to secure vehicles:

• Always lock and remove the keys from farm vehicles when not in use.

• Consider fitting steering locks, handbrake and gear stick locks.

• Consider fitting security posts or pedal locks.

• Keep keys to vehicles away from the front door and consider locking away in a key safe. There are lots of options for key safes now which have key or key coded entry and some have Bluetooth entry.

• Consider using a forensic marking solution to mark the vehicle and its parts.

• Fit isolating systems to your 4x4 vehicles that will prevent theft such as fuel and battery isolators.

• Install immobilisers, VHF and GPS tracking devices to your vehicle. This will aid the recovery of your vehicle should it be stolen. These have been proven methods of returning vehicles that have been stolen.

• If you would like further advice on securing your 4x4 please send the Rural Crime Team an email to ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk

• Report suspicious vehicle or callers to police by calling 999 if the vehicle or occupants are seen committing crime or phone 101 or, via email, 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk if the vehicle is seen acting suspiciously.

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