Four caravan tow hitches worth up to £1,000 have been stolen from a storage compound in Semington.

Thieves broke into the Fairfield Caravan Storage site through a neighbouring field, some time between last Tuesday and Thursday, and made off with the connectors, which attach caravans to towing vehicles.

Andy Harrison, vice-chairman of The Caravan Club Wiltshire, said such thefts were not common.

He said: “Tow hitches are probably a couple of hundred quid a time to replace, so they could be desirable, but unless you’re towing they have no use to anybody.

“There is no locking system for the bolts, and they aren’t a difficult job to remove if you’ve got the right tools, but it could be a noisy job, and a little bit time-consuming.”

PC Kane Fulbrook-Smith, of the Melksham Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Suspects have broken down fencing from the wheat field, and gone to four caravans to remove their tow hitches.

“This is an unusual crime, I’ve not heard of it happening before.

“If owners can get these items securely marked with their postcode, the police will have a chance to return them to their rightful owner if they do come into contact with them.”

Anyone with information about the theft can contact Wiltshire Police on 101.