Police hunt duo after high-tech tractor thefts sweep rural Germany
Korbach (our news platform)
Unknown perpetrators gained access to multiple tractors in Waldeck, Netze, and Sachsenhausen during the night from Saturday (September 27) to Sunday (September 28). In one of the incidents—believed to be connected to the others—the offenders were caught on camera.
In Netze, two unidentified suspects broke into a barn between 12:45 a.m. and 1:00 a.m., stealing several tools and devices, including multiple cordless drills, a chainsaw, and an industrial vacuum cleaner. They then smashed the side window of a John Deere tractor and stole its control panel with display.
Since the barn was under video surveillance, police can provide descriptions of the suspects: both are tall, slender men. One is estimated to be between 30 and 40 years old, with short dark hair. During the crime, he wore a gray-and-black or green-and-black jacket, gray sweatpants with a large white "Stricted" logo on the left leg, and black sneakers with white soles. He also wore a black cap and gloves. The second suspect was dressed in a black hooded sweatshirt, dark athletic pants, gloves, a dark backpack, and black sneakers with white soles.
Given the volume of stolen goods, investigators assume the suspects used a vehicle, though no details about it are known.
The same offenders likely stole a display from another John Deere tractor on Domänenweg in Waldeck that same night. They somehow unlocked the tractor, which was parked in a farmyard, and removed an ACR Green Star control unit.
However, their attempt in Sachsenhausen's Reiherbach Street proved fruitless. There, they also unlocked a John Deere tractor, but the owner had removed the "GreenStar 3" auxiliary display and the StarFire GPS system the evening before. The next morning, he discovered that the tractor, which he had locked the night before, was now unlocked.
The stolen tractor control units are each valued at around €3,000. The value of the stolen tools has not yet been determined.
Police are seeking witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bad Wildungen police station at +49 5621 70900.
