Above: Laurie Mobbs is devastated by the recent theft of his tractor. Left: The missing tractor is a Deutz DX160, 160hp.By Paul Dunlop
FARMER Laurie Mobbs has been left stranded.
Thieves stole the 78yearold man’s tractor.
Mr Mobbs is devastated by the recent theft of the vital piece of farming equipment, valued at $35,000.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.
“I can’t bring in my harvest without it.”
Mr Mobbs and his wife, Barbara, farm dairy cattle on their 100ha property at Modella.
Without his tractor, Mr Mobbs said he was not sure how he would be able to continue farming.
“I’ve got 100 cattle to feed,” he said.
“I can’t afford to buy a new tractor and I need it to bring in the harvest.”
Police are investigating the theft.
Mr Mobbs believes the tractor was driven off his property by two thieves who came by motorbike.
“They broke the gate at the back entrance of the farm and rode about threequarters of a mile to the other end,” he said.
“They came in and drove it off.”
Mr Mobbs said he had no idea who would do such a thing.
He said it was the first time in 25 years on the land that such a big and valuable item of equipment a seemingly unlikely target for thieves had been taken.
Mr Mobbs said he was prepared to offer a reward for the safe return of his tractor.
“Nothing like this has happened before,” he said.
“This is devastating for me.”
The tractor is a Deutz DX160, 160hp.
Anybody with any information is urged to contact police.
