THIEVES USED the cover of an agriculture show in Ballivor, Co Meath, last Sunday to steal three tractors worth nearly €200,000 from a Bord na Móna facility.
The incident happened between 3pm and 5.30pm when the thieves broke into the compound in Raharney, Co Westmeath, and drove the stolen vehicles away in convoy.
Because there were so many tractors in the area, it is believed the gang planned the robbery in advance to allow them escape unnoticed.
The vehicles, two John Deere 140 horsepower vehicles only a year old and a New Holland tractor, were driven along the N52, towards Kells.
The New Holland vehicle was abandoned near Kells and recovered by gardaí but the other tractors, worth €140,000, are still missing.
A Bord na Móna spokesman confirmed the vehicles were stolen and appealed to the public to help recover them.
“Many people must have seen the tractors being driven in convoy along the roads last Sunday from 5.30pm to 9pm and we are appealing for information to have them recovered,” he said. “These vehicles were adapted for working on the bogs and are very large and would be difficult to hide.”
The tractors have no front fenders and the rear wheel rims were drilled in two points to facilitate double wheels being fitted.
“We know there are a lot of tractors being stolen but we have been lucky, perhaps because the machines are very big and have been adapted,” said the spokesman. Gardaí believe the thieves, who wore gloves, may have gone to Virginia or Ballyjamesduff, in Co Cavan.