'It's a bit scary and not great': Hog roast machine worth £4,000 stolen from Northamptonshire home

A Northamptonshire family has been left scared after thieves stole a £4,000 hog roast machine from their home in the middle of the night.

The burglars are believed to have crossed a field to take the machine from a barn in Long Buckby on Friday night (April 17), with at least four people needed to lift the heavy item.

Hannah and Will Mountain, who used the machine as part of their business, Hogs and Hops, feel worried about being targeted where they live with their children and her parents.

"It's a bit of a shame as it's not the sort of thing you can just replace but it's worrying as they have taken it while the kids are in bed asleep," she said.

"They have come in and planned it and taken it away - it's a bit scary and not great."

Will and Hannah did not notice anything was wrong when they left for work at the Evergreen Art Cafe in Daventry on Saturday morning, where they are now based.

But her parents realised the hog roast machine had disappeared from the barn off Brington Road - they could not see any drag marks in the gravel so assumed it had been lifted.

The security lights had not turned on and their dogs did not wake up in the night but tyre marks were found in the field and one of the gates had been opened.

Hannah said: "It's just one of those little blips you could do without but the worst thing is being targeted at home, that's the most horrible thing.

"They must have known it was here and that they were taking it from a business, which isn't nice."

Hogs and Hops will be able to continue their food delivery service in Daventry and the surrounding area but Hannah said it will take them longer to cook the meat.

But once weddings and events are allowed to go ahead again after the coronavirus crisis ends, they may have to buy a new hog roast machine.

Hannah said: "We're fortunate that work is very busy and we can carry on and pay our staff but you still don't want things like this happening - at any time.

"But to do this when the country is dealing with everything else, it's not very nice but the support from our customers has been phenomenal."

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting reference 20000198654.