A South Island dairy farmer has warned others in the rural community to be aware after an incident that saw a drone cruising by farm buildings in the dead of night.
The distressing encounter on Monday night saw a female farm worker come face to face with one of the devices as she prepared for bed, in what the farmer believes was a scouting mission ahead of a potential raid on his bulk fuel tanks.
The worker, who the Herald has agreed not the name, said it all took place around 9.30pm on Monday, as she was preparing to go to sleep at her home on the farm.
She was in bed when she heard a persistent "humming" noise from outside, which she initially ignored before the noise grew louder.
"I decided to have a wee geez out the window and first I thought it was a plane in the distance, because of the light flashing - and then slowly it was coming towards my window"