A search has begun for a 2½-tonne stump grinder, which was stolen from a property in Devonshire.

Owner Miguel Pereira said that the equipment was being stored on the property under a blue tarpaulin, but when he and staff went to collect it yesterday for a job, they discovered it was missing.

“I can only think of three things,” he said.

“Either someone stole it to resell it, someone stole it not realising it’s the only one like that on the Island, or they stole it to try to ship it off the Island.

“I just want my machine back. At the end of the day, I just want it returned.”

He said the machinery is somewhere around 10ft long and 7ft to 8ft wide, and would have likely been towed from the area.

“It’s not something you can just pick up and put in the back of your car,” he said. “It’s used for grinding tree stumps. That’s pretty much it’s only use. If someone tries to use it and doesn’t know how, they would likely damage it.”

He urged anyone who may have seen the grinder to contact him at 536-4495, urging anyone who may have been invited to purchase the equipment not to do so.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that they had received a report of the theft yesterday from the Island Construction property.

“It was reported that between November and December 30 someone had removed an industrial stump grinder which was stored on the Island Construction property,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Rayco brand stump grinder is described as approximately five years old, yellow in colour with red fenders and a Duete diesel engine. It is believed to be the only one of its kind in Bermuda.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011 or the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline 800-8477.