ARMED police arrested a suspected tractor thief — after a 14mph chase.
The £10,000 vehicle was seen being driven “erratically” at night without lights while towing a hay baler.
Officers suspected it was stolen and tried to pull it over. But it failed to stop — triggering a low-speed, 25-minute chase for six miles on Thursday night.
Its massive tyres meant they were unable to stop it with a stinger so armed cops instead formed a road block near Gainsborough, Lincs.
They lay in wait before arresting a 29-year-old man at the scene. One police vehicle was damaged.
Superintendent Paul Timmins, of Lincolnshire Police, said the tractor was driven on “both sides of the road” doing “14 to 15mph”.
‘RISK TO LIFE’
He added: “It had potential to cause severe damage and was a risk to life.”
The tractor, initially spotted near Market Rasen, was a 1980s Case International Harvester 956 XL, worth £10,000, and towing a £5,000 Claas Rollant 44s baler.
Supt Timmins added: “We have lots of farm traffic which is attractive to thieves. Last night we had a positive outcome.”
Lincolnshire Police said: “A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a tractor, criminal damage to the highway and failing to stop.”
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