Police are appealing for witnesses after a £40,000 burglary at Burford Priory.

Burglars entered the grounds at the rear of the property from the isolated Sheep Street gate between 10pm on Tuesday night and 8am yesterday.

They stole various new, large machines with a total value of more than £40,000. These included:

  • Two sit-on lawn mowers
  • One Chipper machine
  • Five quad bikes – all of medium size and red and yellow in colour
  • An orange Kubota mini digger
  • Various building tools and clothing.

  • PC Jacqueline Johnson said: “This is high-value machinery, and we are asking people to keep an eye out for it; if you see any of these items for sale, and you suspect that they may be stolen, then please contact the police on 0845 8 505 505.”

    “We are also appealing for any witnesses that saw people acting suspiciously around the gate on Sheep Street. This is an isolated area, but there was a lot of unusual activity there on Tuesday night, as the thieves moved all the equipment and machinery.”

    If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

    Elisabeth Murdoch, daughter of media magnate Rupert, moved into the priory late last year when monks and nuns moved out. Ms Murdoch and husband Matthew Freud, the PR guru, bought the 22-bedroom, Jacobean home, which had been on the market for £6.5m.