GPS thieves targeting farmers in night raids

WEST Country farmers have been warned that criminal gangs could take advantage of the busy harvest period to steal expensive global positioning systems (GPS) from tractors and combines.

In recent years, GPS systems have been one of the most frequently stolen items from farms because of their high value and portability.

NFU Mutual saw the national cost of theft claims for GPS devices almost double in 2020 to £2.9million.

Over the past 18 months, a nationwide operation carried out by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) with financial support from NFU Mutual has successfully cut the number of GPS thefts over the past year.

However, the leading rural insurer is concerned that criminals could be planning to use the busy harvest period to get onto farms unseen to steal GPS equipment.

Ian Maddever, a senior agent at NFU Mutual based in Cornwall, said farmers in the South West have been targeted in the past by GPS thieves who move around the country carrying out overnight raids.

In recent weeks, thefts have been taking place in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

He added: “We know that criminals are still trying to steal GPS kits and will take advantage of the coming harvest period when farmers are working long hours to get onto farms unseen and machinery is away from the farmstead.

“GPS is a vital tool on modern farms and thefts cause huge disruption as it can take days to source new equipment. With global food supplies under pressure, holding up harvest is the last thing farmers need.

“We are urging farmers to remove systems when they’re not in use and keep them securely.”

In a bid to prevent theft and protect farmers from thieves NFU Mutual and NaVCIS have produced a video about GPS security.

DC Chris Piggott, agricultural vehicle crime co-ordinator at (NaVCIS), said GPS theft is an “international crime”, with countries across the globe experiencing thefts and attempts to sell stolen equipment back into the farming sector.

He continued: “There are also homegrown criminals stealing GPS systems as people turn to criminal activity to make a quick buck. These criminals are well-organised and know what they are looking for – so it’s essential to remove GPS kit from tractors and combines when they’re not in use and store them securely.

“It’s also well worth using indelible ink to mark GPS cases and domes with your farm name and post code to make it less attractive to thieves – and to help police return recovered kit to its rightful owner. Many systems now have PIN security – and activating it makes it much harder for thieves to sell systems on.

“Some stolen GPS kits are offered for sale in the UK. One of the best things farmers can do to reduce this crime is to carefully check the provenance of any second-hand equipment offered for sale.”