DOZENS of chickens were killed, a tractor stolen and a Land Rover taken in a mini crime spree around the Selby district.

The tractor was the first to be taken, at around 8.40pm last Thursday. The green and yellow John Deere vehicle, with a green bale lifter on the front and yellow front wheels, had been left locked but unattended in a field near Barlow. It was owned by a farmer from Camblesforth.

The following morning police were called to an address in Bolton Percy after reports that the green Land Rover had been stolen. It is thought thieves took it some time overnight.

The final incident took place on Sunday evening when someone broke into poultry sheds at a farm at Byram Park, Byram, at about 11am.

For some reason the intruder turned off 12 water taps, which resulted in the deaths of about 50 chickens. A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police appealed for witnesses. He said rural crime was a priority for Selby police and a dedicated unit existed to prevent and solve crime.

He said: “Rural crime is a priority for North Yorkshire Police and a lot of work has been done in the fight against poaching and related criminality.”

Anyone with information about the crimes, or who is offered the stolen vehicles for sale, is asked to phone Selby police on 0845 6060247.