The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Farmers and crofters urged to prioritise security measures
Farmers and crofters are being urged to take measures to protect their property from thieves.
Following a spate of high-value thefts, including a £70,000 tractor from the north-east, NFU Scotland is calling on all producers to get more security savvy as darker nights drawn in.
“As the nights draw in, it can be all too easy for people to become complacent about security, making them the ideal target for opportunist thieves,” said the union’s policy manager, Gemma Cooper.
“According to NFU Mutual, last year alone rural crime cost Scotland £1.7 million with the most commonly targeted items by thieves over the last 12 months being quad bikes, tools from farms and businesses and oil and diesel.”
She said that farmers and crofters have to stay “one step ahead” of thieves in the continual battle to protect their property.
“It is only by continually reviewing and improving their own practices and security features that will allow them to ward off thieves,” she added.
“Our key advice is to make sure security equipment is fully operational, all machinery, and equipment, including trailers, are locked away in sheds or buildings overnight, and the keys stored away from windows and main doors in houses.
“By making time to take simple precautions now could save you a lot of time, money and hassle in the future.”
Producers are asked to report anything suspicious to the police on 101.
Iwas rather alarmed to read in The Courier that those investigating farm thefts think there is an inside element to some crimes.
The high-value thefts of tractors and forklifts are not limited to farms, because diggers, forklifts and plant are regularly stolen.
These need specialised transport, with curtain-side lorries, either low loaders or with good ramps.
These ought to be stopped often if spotted at night, or tracked with CCTV cameras at every opportunity, with far greater surveillance at the docks. The cost could be borne by the insurance companies.
But the best way is to prevent theft at farm level.
I used to have an old van as transport around the farm.
One day I noticed a switch in a strange, concealed position. When switched off, the van was immobilised. It is only a five-minute job for any vehicle mechanic to wire these up, and I can vouch for effectiveness.
The second type of theft is the fuel theft.
I have lost count of the number of van drivers who have spun some story about only needing some fuel to get home, and could I oblige by selling them some red diesel?
Of course, once the good tank is identified, rather than the decoy, they will return at night to fill up a larger tank.
Again, any vehicle fitted with a tank, travelling at night should be investigated.
But the real way to stop this crime is a harder crackdown by Customs and Excise, which would be self-financing.
It is not only the old vans, as I have had some very expensive vans come in.
One incident I heard of involved the fitting of a dummy tank which would take an expert to detect.
The third type of theft, and probably the most worrying of all, is the one which involves farm stock and consumables – the net wrap and sprays type of thing.
These could well be bought by farming types, but I would stake my reputation on them being carried out by people on the fringes, such as those renting a small out-lying property.
They will find it hard to source chemicals through proper channels, and could well be making some haylage to feed livestock.
The stock theft, however, should worry us all.
The reports suggest experience in loading, and transport capability.
Again, the only way to catch these is by stopping and searching. Who would legitimately be moving livestock in the dead of night?
What happens to this stock, without passports and movement records?
A back-street slaughter operation, linked to underground distribution, suggests the need for more coordination if a serious health and welfare issue is to be halted, with long jail sentences for any involved.
In short, more cameras, more coordination and better on-farm security is called for.
Anything is better than a frightened farmer grabbing a shotgun to protect his property.
Anything is better than a frightened farmer grabbing a shotgun to protect his property