Hills Orchard, Hastings, desperately seeking stolen machinery

Miles Hales, manager, Hills Orchard, Elwood Rd, Hastings, part of Johnny Appleseed Satellites Division, had two tractors and a sprayer stolen on Sunday night. Photo / Duncan Brown.

All that was left of two tractors and a sprayer was the tyre markings on the ground of an Elwood Rd orchard in Hastings.

Some time during Sunday evening and the early hours of yesterday morning, thieves cut the wire of the large deer fence surrounding Hills Orchard and drove off with machinery worth $110,000.

Orchard manager Miles Hales said it was "gut wrenching" and is appealing to anyone who might have seen something or know the tractor's whereabouts.

"It is alarming, particularly at this time of the season."

He believes the thieves took off with the machinery along the general area of Elwood Rd, Ruahapia Rd, St Georges Rd and Karamu Rd.

The orchard, which is part of part of Johnny Appleseed Satellites Division, has six other tractors on the property.

One tractor was bought in 2016 and is red, with grey rims and has a white and red sprayer attached to it, while the 2013 tractor is red with white rims.

He urged other growers and farmer' to keep an eye out, as he didn't want what has happened to him to happen again.

Hawke's Bay Fruitgrowers Association president Lesley Wilson said it had become a real problem for orchardists.

"Growers are increasingly having trouble with people coming onto their properties and stealing what may be only small items or very large items."

Ms Wilson said now a lot of orchards have motion sensor hidden cameras set up as a way of combating thefts.

"There are a lot of opportunist thieves and then there's quite an organised set-up so they'll come in and clean out entire sheds. They have to have researched the property, know when people are going to be there and when they're not going to be there and get in and out as quick as possible.

"We are working closely with the police and have got direct contact with the rural liaison within the police in Hawke's Bay so that works really well for us."

A police spokeswoman said it was reported to them yesterday morning and they were currently "making inquiries".