Thieves have stolen two forklifts worth around £120,000 from an Angus yard.
The Manitou machines were taken in an audacious raid in the early hours of Friday from Ness Plant on the A935 Forfar Road, just outside Brechin.
Police Scotland said the theft took place sometime between 2am and 2.30am.
The Manitou MLT634 telehandlers are valued at some £60,000 each.
Ness Plant bosses were able to pinpoint the time of the raid after the thieves moved CCTV cameras at the yard in an attempt to prevent them getting footage of the break-in to the locked yard.
A large transporter would have been required to take the machines away.
The Brechin business lies close to the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen dual carriageway and the thieves may have made off on that route.
Plant theft is a nationwide problem, with machinery often stolen to order and frequently ending up being shipped abroad.
“This is the first time it has happened to us, but machinery thefts are big business,” said a Ness Plant spokesman.
A police spokesman said: “Anyone with any information that may be useful should contact Tayside Division on 101 or any police officer.
“Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
