Farm thefts: Community traumatised after spate of burglaries

A Mid Ulster farming community has been left “traumatised” following a string of burglaries.

Several farms in the Dungannon and Aughnacloy areas of County Tyrone have had high-value machinery stolen in recent months.

Jonathan Potter had an expensive agricultural vehicle stolen, as well as essential tools and animal feed taken from his land in Aughnacloy.

“They arrived in my yard at about 1am when we were asleep and were there for about 45 minutes,” he said.

“It’s knowing that they were on my property where my family are, that’s the hard part.

“We captured them on CCTV. They came in through the front gate, broke the locks, and pushed it out of the yard while we were asleep.”