Police probe theft of plant machinery and tools across Ayrshire after series of incidents

Police are appealing for information following a series of thefts in Ayrshire in which plant machinery and tools were stolen.

Officers are investigating six incidents reported over the course of four days.

The first took place at 1.50am on Thursday, October 15, when a JCB 1-tonne swivel dumper truck was taken from a premises on London Road in Kilmarnock.

Police received four reports concerning incidents on Saturday, October 17, including the attempted theft of a JCB digger from a site on Callander Road in Ayr at 1.15am. The suspects left in a dark grey pick-up truck.

Just over an hour later, a vehicle was broken into on Kilmarnock Road in Monkton, with a number of electric tools and climbing equipment being stolen.

Police say the suspects departed in a black Ford Ranger and may have travelled towards Irvine.

At 4am, a yellow dumper truck was taken from a site near Woodside Gardens in Irvine by individuals who drove off in a dark grey pick-up truck towards Cairn Mount.

A yellow Macalac 1.5 tonne dumper truck was then stolen from a field near Ploughglands in Kilmarnock at 6am.

Following this theft, a black SUV-type vehicle was seen leaving the scene in the direction of Kilmarnock on the A759.

Officers were alerted to a sixth incident at 12.10am on Sunday, October 18, when a one-tonne Thwaites dumper truck was taken from Berry Drive, Irvine. The truck has since been recovered.

Police are keeping an open mind as enquiries are carried out, however, it is believed the incidents are linked.

Constable Paul Edwards said: “Following extensive enquiries, we are appealing for the help of the public and would ask anyone who has any information to get in touch.

“We are particularly interested to hear from anyone who saw a dark coloured pick-up type vehicle with a trailer across the Ayrshire area between Thursday, 15 October and Sunday, 18 October, 2026.

“Additionally, we would ask that those who live locally review any private CCTV or dash-cam footage to see if it has captured anything that could assist with our investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0449 of 17 October, 2026.

Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111 where information can be passed anonymously.