Farms are frequently targeted by thieves, mostly because they’re home to a wide range of expensive and in-demand equipment. As farms are based in rural locations, criminals often don’t have to worry about being caught by passersby, giving them an added sense of security. The good news is, business alarm systems serve as excellent deterrents, keeping your belongings as safe as possible, 24 hours a day.
With all this in mind, let’s take a quick look at five of the most stolen items from farms that’ll make you want to install a business camera system.
1. GPS Kits
If you’ve watched Season 2 of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime, you’ll know that GPS kits are frequently stolen from farms, with Jeremy and Caleb having a lengthy discussion about this issue. In 2022, police warned farmers to increase their security, with criminal gangs taking advantage of busy harvest seasons to steal precious and expensive items. Indeed, according to NFU Mutual figures, the national cost of claims for GPS theft almost doubled in 2020, to £2.9 million. This was largely fuelled by the pandemic with criminals looking for a portable steal.
2. Farm Pick-Ups
As second-hand car prices soar, rural thieves have also been targeting farm pick-up trucks. Shockingly, more than twice as many pick-ups were stolen each month in 2022 than in 2021. Farmers have recently been encouraged to increase security measures for their vehicles, even if their pick-ups have seen better days and are over ten years old. This is because older Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi L200 models are the most regularly targeted pick-up models.
3. Livestock
Believe it or not, livestock rustling has become more lucrative for criminals, with figures revealing animals worth £2.4 million were stolen from farms in 2021 alone. Soaring food prices in recents months could now mean that livestock theft will increase, raising concerns about food security, animal welfare and unsanitary slaughter conditions which could impact human health. A loss of animals can severely impact a farmer’s profit, which is why installing a commercial CCTV system is essential. What’s more, if you’ve a farm shop or somewhere to sell the produce of your farm, make sure this is CCTV-protected too.
4. Quad Bikes
Quad bikes are easy to steal and sell well on the second-hand market. This makes them a great target for thieves. With their ability to handle off-road jobs and tow trailers, quad bikes offer a quick and easy solution to checking livestock and navigating fields. With this in mind, never leave quad bikes out in open areas and always padlock them away in secure barns and sheds that aren’t easy to access.
5. Agricultural Machinery
Millions of pounds worth of tractors are stolen every year, with tractor thefts up by 20% in 2022. Highly-organised thieves use stolen articulated lorries to haul away expensive tractors and loaders in the dead of night, with criminals upping their game since the pandemic. To prevent this, make sure all gates are locked, keep vehicles off roads or locked up at a separate location if possible, and consider infra-red beam alarms, CCTV and fit trackers. It’s also advisable to update your insurance policy and to make sure the insurance details, including the small print, meets your needs.
Ensure the security of your farm is up-to-scratch today and deter criminal activity in the best way possible. As farmers, best practices should always be followed and entire farm teams should be trained to prevent items from being stolen.
