Dorset Police received a report in April that a Hitachi digger and JCB digger were stolen from a site in Ferndown.

Following extensive enquiries and collaboration with the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT), the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS), Polish police and Interpol, the Hitachi digger was successfully tracked down and located in the Pruchnik area of Poland last month.

Arrangements have been made for the digger to be shipped back to the UK and returned to its owner.

Police Constable Kate Schofield, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “Our investigation is ongoing to identify the offenders and hold them accountable for their organised offending. We are also doing all we can to locate the second digger that was stolen during this incident.

“We are continuing to liaise with the Polish police and Interpol to establish the full circumstances of the recovery of the digger.

“We will endeavour to work with neighbouring police forces – and in this case forces overseas – to target those who affect our construction communities.”

The victim stated: “As a developer, we have been hit hard over the past year by theft. We are very pleased to have had this machine recovered.

“It is a testament to the work carried out by the police and hopefully serves as a reminder of the relentless work involved. Even across country borders, stolen items can and will be tracked down.”

Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, of the National Rural Crime Unit, said: “This is one of many international machinery seizures made over the last 18 months.

“It clearly demonstrates what we know – that international organised crime is targeting the UK farming and construction industries.

“Whilst this is a good piece of police work by Dorset Police, NAVCIS and NCATT, the necessity for modern security on all machinery, vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity has never been greater.”