An offender was caught on CCTV stealing red diesel from a tractor.

Around 20 litres of red diesel were siphoned and stolen from a tractor stored securely in a shed on Woodoaks Farm in Maple Cross between 5pm on October 18 and 5am on October 19.

Once the farmer was going to enter the tractor, he discovered a length of hosing resting in a nearby trough and realised that the diesel was stolen before shortly contacting the police.

As Red diesel is a fuel used in off-road vehicles such as farming tractors, it is illegal to use red diesel in vehicles used on public roads.

CCTV footage was released of the offender approaching the shed.

PC Christian Gottmann, from the Rickmansworth and Croxley Green Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “We appreciate you cannot see the man’s face in the footage due to the time it was captured, however perhaps you recognise the style of his clothing or his gait?

“Crimes such as these deeply impact the farmers’ livelihood and we are committed to cracking down on rural crime.

“If you recognise the man in the footage, please do get in touch as soon as possible.”

If you have any information about the incident, contact Hertfordshire Constabulary quoting crime reference 41/94862/19.

You can email PC Gottmann on Christian.gottmann@herts.pnn.police.uk , report information at herts.police.uk/report, use the online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call 101.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit their website crimestoppers-uk.org.