POLICE are investigating a mini crime spree which saw burglars steal £30,000 of farm machinery and a motorbike.

Crooks struck in the Hambleton district over two nights last week targeting properties in the Thirsk and Northallerton areas.

The thieves stole farm machinery from an unnamed agricultural machinery dealership at Sinderby, near to Thirsk.

Crooks also broke into a house and sheds at Brompton, near to Northallerton.

At present the police are not connecting the two crimes but they are appealing for aid to capture the burglars.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Detectives in Northallerton are appealing for information following a number of burglaries in the area.

"Police are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious or anyone who is offered agricultural machinery for sale under dubious circumstances to contact them."

Firstly overnight on Tuesday, 5, and Wednesday, 6, May a house, sheds and an outbuilding were all broken into by the crooks at Brompton.

They stole a silver Honda Deauville motorbike with distinctive iridescent metallic paint during the raid.

They also took some home-brewed wine, engine oil and a purse containing cash and cards.

The police believe the crooks may have ridden the motorbike through the village in order to get it away between midnight and the early hours.

Then on Thursday, May 7, burglars struck at an agricultural dealership located on the southbound A1 at around 8.30pm.

They stole two red-coloured Magnum powered Harrows, used for haymaking, and two Manner fork and grabs, one made by Cherry and one by Strimech.

The police think the thieves may have used a wagon to transport the goods away from the area and that they went south along the A1.

Detectives investigating the crime have not ruled out the possibility that the stolen goods were taken into the West and South Yorkshire areas.

They are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious activity on the A1 during the period or who may have followed the wagon along the motorway to get in touch.

Anyone who can help with police enquiries should call Northallerton CID on 0845-6060-247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.