A TEST service set up by the Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team has proved instrumental in fighting crime.

In the latest incident where the service was used, a stolen Landrover Discovery was found just a day after it was stolen.

The vehicle was stolen from a farm in Braydon overnight Monday.

A text message was sent to all the local members of Farm Watch and this morning one of the text message recipients contacted Wiltshire Police having found the vehicle.

It was located at the Premier Inn car park in Lydiard Fields and has now been returned to its owners.

PCSO John Bordiss, part of the Rural Crime Team, said: “This is an excellent example to highlight just how beneficial these schemes are.

“If this person had not received information of the theft via a text alert, we might not have located the vehicle so quickly.

“It is a great example of the police working with local people and, in particular, local farmers to help reduce crime across our county.”

For more information on the Rural Crime Team, log onto www.wiltshire.police.uk or speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101.