Man from St Helens arrested after suspected stolen digger found in Berkshire
Police found the digger on a trailer attached to a broken down van on the A34 near Newbury
Last updated 21st Aug 2025
A man has been arrested after a digger that was reported stolen near Southampton was found on a trailer attached to a broken down van in Berkshire.
Hampshire Police were called at 12.58pm yesterday (Wednesday 20 August) to a report that the machine had been stolen from Queens Ride in North Baddesley.
The vehicle was traced using its tracker and found on the hard shoulder of the A34 northbound near Newbury around an hour later.
A 32 year old from St Helens has been arrested on suspicion of several motoring offences and theft.
Hampshire Police statement
A man has been arrested after officers located a suspected stolen excavator believed to have been taken from an address in North Baddesley.
Officers were called at 12.58pm on Wednesday 20 August to a report that the machine had been stolen from Queens Ride.
The excavator had been fitted with a tracker, and it was later seen to be in a static position on the A34 northbound near Newbury.
Officers attended that location and found that a van had broken down on the hard shoulder shortly after 2pm.
The suspected stolen excavator was found on a trailer attached to the vehicle.
A 32-year-old man from St Helen’s was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and using a vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance. He remains in custody while our enquiries continue.
The excavator has been recovered.