Two men have been arrested after a ‘hotwired’ farm tractor was rammed ‘full throttle’ through the brick wall of a family home by balaclava-clad thugs.
The red Massey Ferguson was stolen from land nine miles away before it was driven front-end-first into the living room of a mid-terraced property in Middlesbrough.
Neighbours were woken by a series of loud bangs in the early hours of Saturday – watching in horror as the tractor, with a baler still attached, was smashed into the front of the house a second time, before the occupants fled in a getaway car.
Police say two men, aged 27 and 34, have now been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to destroy or damage property and theft of a motor vehicle.
The pair are currently in police custody for questioning.
Residents described hearing the tractor and seeing its yellow flashing lights before it drove into the property, as neighbours were forced to evacuate as a precaution shortly after 1am following the incident on Priory Road.
The house was unoccupied when the attack took place.
A scene is still in place on Priory Road and officers say they are working to investigate the cause.
A stolen tractor smashed into a house before a masked gang fled the scene in a getaway car
Neighbours were forced to evacuate after the vehicle damaged the property on Priory Road, Middlesbrough, at around 1.40am
Residents described hearing the tractor and seeing its yellow flashing lights before it drove ‘full throttle’ into the brickwork
Most residents who were previously removed from their home have now been able to return – however, two households remain evacuated while police ‘offer support’.
One resident, who filmed the incident on his phone, said: ‘I heard it and felt it. It reversed into a car and drove back in again. They were all in balaclavas and hoodies. It was the most insane thing I’ve ever seen.’
In the aftermath of the collision, farmer Ian Tate arrived at the scene to find his vehicle still wedged in the front wall with its engine ticking over.
‘There was no key in the ignition,’ he told The Mail on Sunday. ‘This was a good ten hours after the crash. I don’t know if they can hotwire these modern tractors or not.’
‘These machines are complicated to handle and complicated to drive,’ Mr Tate said. ‘Someone had to know what they were doing.’
Officers say they will continue working with the local authority to assess the property and ensure it is made safe – meaning the scene will remain in place for the next few days.
Specialist forensic teams will be carrying out detailed examinations, including on the tractor involved.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector John Bonner said: ‘Our investigation is moving at pace with various enquiries taking place that has led to two arrests.
‘I am aware of video footage circulating on social media which appears to show activity at farm locations across Cleveland, North Yorkshire, and Durham prior to the incident and would ask for the owners to report this to us.
‘I’m taking this opportunity to appeal directly to farm and landowners to contact us if they have any CCTV or information relating to intruders or suspicious activity on their land within the last seven days.
‘There will continue to be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance to the community.’
Anyone with information, dashcam or doorbell footage – including sightings of the vehicle – has been asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101 or visit the website quoting reference number 087639.
Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
