An RCMP investigation has led to the recovery of an expensive tractor found submerged in a less-than-fragrant location.

Officers said a tractor stolen a year and a half ago was located beneath a large pile of manure.

On December 21, 2010, police received a report from a business in the RM of Rosser that a 2009 Case IH Steiger 485 tractor had been stolen. The value of the tractor was pegged at $300,000.

Investigators determined the tractor had been loaded onto a trailer and taken overnight.

A tip submitted through Crime Stoppers led officers to a property in the RM of Fisher, southwest of Fisher Branch.

"The case came to a stall because we had no suspects, not much by way of information and then came the tip," said Sgt. Line Karpish from the RCMP. 

On May 31, police received a search warrant and began looking for the tractor at the location over the next couple of days. Officers hired an excavator and the tractor was later found buried under a 12 to 15 foot (3.6 metres to 4.5 metres) manure pile, said RCMP.

"It's kind of like robbing a bank and then burning the money after. It doesn't make sense," said Ryan Grandmont, a salesperson at Leo's Sales and Service, the shop whose tractor was stolen. 

It took crews about a day and a half to pull the tractor out. 

A 24-year-old man from the RM of Fisher was arrested and faces multiple charges, including theft over $5,000 and possession of goods obtained by crime. A 22-year-old woman also faces a charge for possession of stolen property.