The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau (MALTB) recovered stolen agricultural equipment in Hinds County last week. A tractor, hay rake and hay baler were stolen from farms in Lincoln, Copiah and Hinds Counties in December and January.

On Dec. 26, 2024, the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office took the initial report of a stolen 2022 LS tractor model MT468CPS. Then, on Jan. 5, 2025, the Copiah County Sheriff’s Office filed a report of a stolen John Deere model 702 hay rake, followed by another report by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for a stolen John Deere model 530 hay baler on Jan. 6, 2025. MALTB Director Dean Barnard said the Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau was asked to assist in these recent farm equipment thefts, which seem to be on the rise in rural parts of Hinds, Copiah and Lincoln Counties.

Officers with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, as well as MALTB investigators, recovered both the hay baler and hay rake in separate areas of rural Hinds County. On Jan. 8, 2025, the stolen John Deere model 702 hay rake was recovered; and on Jan. 9, 2025, the John Deere model 530 hay baler was recovered. The LS tractor is still missing. This is an open and ongoing investigation.

“I ask the public – if you see something, say something, and report it to law enforcement officials,” said Director Barnard. “Many times, it is the public’s tips and eyes that help us recover property and solve some of these theft cases in rural areas.”

Barnard commended all his MALTB investigators, along with the Hinds County, Copiah County and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Offices, for their continued efforts into the investigation of ag thefts.

The Mississippi Agriculture and Livestock Theft Bureau, the law enforcement division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, enforces state laws pertaining to the theft of cattle, horses, swine, poultry, fish, farm equipment, chemicals, timber and all other farm or agriculture-related crimes.

Visit http://msagtheft.org/ to learn more about the MALTB. To report or provide information regarding an agricultural crime, call 800-678-2660.