Moment masked burglars creep around mobile home at alpaca farm before stealing 100-year-old machete

Terrifying CCTV footage shows the moment masked burglars creep around a mobile home and then steal a 100-year-old machete after having smashed their way in.

In the early morning break-in, which was the second raid on the alpaca farm in a year, the thieves appear to break a Kryptonite D-lock on the gate, before backing their truck into Bonnington Farm, near Ashford, Kent.

The gang of three can then be seen sneaking around the site in balaclavas, with one holding a weapon.

At around 3.25am, the trio appear to smash their way through a door to get inside the outbuilding and search the kitchen with torches.

 Terrifying CCTV footage shows the moment masked burglars creep around a mobile home and then steal a 100-year-old machete after having smashed their way in

At around 3.25am, the trio appear to smash their way through a door to get inside the outbuilding and search the kitchen with torches

The thieves made off with a century-old machete, which had been used to prune apple trees by the owner’s grandparents.

Owners Mark Homewood and Tess Wilde are now living in fear of being targeted once again by criminals.

The couple have been trying to start their own small farm, like Mr Homewood’s grandparents.

Mr Homewood said the group left nothing untouched as they ransacked the building looking for high-value items to steal.

Owners Mark Homewood and Tess Wilde (pictured) are now living in fear of being targeted once again by criminals

The gang of three can be seen sneaking around the site in balaclavas, with one holding a weapon

He said: ‘The machete was of great sentimental value. My grandparents used to own orchards and it was well-used by them pruning the apple trees.’

The toll is particularly heavy because the farm is so new – bought by the pair in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

Mr Homewood added: ‘We were hoping to continue passing it down the generations. Unfortunately the fear of crime is beginning to take a toll on us.’

Both have ties to the countryside and have always wanted to run a farm – and they have succeeded in making this dream happen. The site is now home to 14 alpacas and four baby alpacas, while the couple has plans to bring in poultry, rare breed sheep and bees.

Mr Homewood is from a family of Kentish apple farmers and some of his fondest memories are of picking apples during harvest. Tess is from Yorkshire and always loved rural life and animals.

Pictures from their site show the joy the farm brings to Tess, Mark and the alpacas – as the pair get up-close to the animals, even head-to-head.

In the early morning break-in, which was the second raid on the alpaca farm in a year, the thieves appear to break a Kryptonite D-lock on the gate, before backing their truck into Bonnington Farm, near Ashford, Kent

Mr Homewood said the group left nothing untouched as they ransacked the building looking for high-value items to steal

The couple said they now face a taxing and expensive clear up.

Mr Homewood added: ‘Thankfully we were not inside.

‘They went through the whole place, opened every draw. From what we can tell they didn’t steal much more than a pot of Hibiscrub [an antimicrobial skin cleanser] and a machete.

‘We have been left with thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to clear up.’

The mobile home the thieves broke into is currently used for storage.

The farmer recounted the break in last year: ‘The last time we were targeted by a criminal was August 26 last year when they cut through the fence and left it wide open.

‘Fortunately, none of the alpacas escaped.’

Mr Homewood hopes to raise awareness of the reality of rural crime.

Kent Police said officers are continuing to make enquiries into the burglary.