Three forklift trucks were seized and a suspect arrested after a suspicious member of the public raised the alarm.
Police were called to an address in Pye Hill Road, Jacksdale, after a vehicle was reported to have hurriedly unloaded a forklift truck from a trailer before speeding away.
Officers began a search of the area and found two forklift trucks covered in dirt shortly after 8pm on Monday 20 December. Two knives were also recovered.
A suspect then arrived at the scene towing another forklift truck and was detained by the officers.
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of three counts of theft, fraud, driving without insurance, possessing an offensive weapon, and two counts of being in possession of a knife.
He was later released under investigation.
Enquiries are now underway to identify the lawful owners of the forklift trucks.
Chief Inspector Heather Sutton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Tackling rural crime is a key force priority. We understand the impact these kind of offences can have on local businesses and urge all members of the public to play their part by telling us right away about suspicious activity.
“On this occasion a swift call to the police led us to recover three very valuable machines we believe to be stolen and also to take potentially dangerous weapons off the street.”
