An arrest has been made after police located stolen farm equipment.

Officers from Dorset Police Rural Crime Team were carrying out investigations when they came across the stolen property which was recognisable ‘from a unique identifier.’

Without this identifier, police would not have been able to identify it as stolen property or return it to its rightful owner.

Subsequently, officers were also able to arrest someone in connection with the incident.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police Rural Crime Team said: “This afternoon we were able to return stolen property to a farmer in the West Dorset area.

“This followed an investigation and arrest by the team. On this occasion we were able to identify the victim's property from a unique identifier, and without it, we wouldn't have been able to identify the property as stolen, or attribute it to its rightful owner.

“Where possible, please mark your equipment and tools as this will assist officers significantly when identifying owners of stolen property in cases where serial numbers have been altered or removed. A unique identifier can be as simple as a carefully placed sticker, or unique marking.”