Shropshire Star

Action to tackle Shropshire rural crime head-on

Shropshire farmers have been warned to security mark and fit tracking devices to their agricultural vehicles in a bid to tackle rural crime head on.

Published
Pc Mick Sturland

More than 35 farmers attended a day of presentations, talks and displays at Fordhall Farm, near Market Drayton.

The free event was organised by the Market Drayton safer neighbourhood team alongside the National Farmers Union (NFU) to combat crime in rural areas of north Shropshire.

Constable Mick Sturland of Market Drayton's SNT opened the event and said: "We are pushing to tackle rural crime but we can't do the job on our own.

"We need partners such as the NFU and farmers to work together.

"Rural businesses need a kick up the bum when it comes to tightening up security.

"If I had £1 for every time I have walked around a farm yard or farm house and didn't see anybody or any security devices - I would be a very rich man now."

First to give a presentation was Clive Harris, NFU Mutual's agricultural vehicle specialist.

He said the total cost of rural crime rose to £44.5m in 2013/14, compared to the £42.3m in 2012/13.

He said the items which were targeted by thieves were tools, quad bikes, livestock, machinery and tractors.

He added: "Organised crime funds drugs and firearms - it is such a huge area to tackle."

Thefts are categorised as either 'medium. value – of between £5,000 and £20,000 – and 'high value, worth £20,000 and more.

Mr Harris said: "Over the last few years the number of high value thefts has reduced but the number of medium thefts have grown.

"There has been a huge reduction in the number of JCB and John Deeres stolen due to each vehicle having a unique key. It used to madness that there was a universal key that could be used to start them all.

"However the best thing to do to prevent crime is engage in local activity and initiatives such as farm watch.

"Also I would urge you to security mark your property and assets and get to know your local rural police officers."

Nick Mayell, of CESAR Datatag, told farmers: "The more information you have about your vehicle, the more chance there is to find it if it is stolen.

"We have to try and do things to help the police with their investigations.

"One of the best things you can do is go and take pictures of your machinery.

"If you don't do anything else today, please do that. Also take the serial number and plates.

"If the vehicle can't be identified it will be given back to the thief.

"This will really help.

"JCB thefts have reduced by 60 per cent in the last three years due to better identification."

Mr Mayell also encouraged farmers to get their tractors fitted with a new security mark – CESAR.

He said a CESAR registered machine is four times less likely to be stolen and six times more likely to be recovered if stolen.

The event comes after a new strategy was launched with £200,000 funding from the Police Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore.

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