Rural police launch crackdown on gangs who prey on farmers

The worrying rise in rural crime has seen raiders target tractors and other farm machinery worth tens of thousands of pounds, often while it is being used during work on the fields, putting farmer’s livelihoods at risk.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual says there has been a significant rise in thefts of more expensive equipment as part of a rise in agricultural crime in Yorkshire and the North-East that cost £9.2m in 2010. Now North Yorkshire Police have launched a new crackdown on vehicle crime in rural areas of Selby – often a target for criminal gangs travelling into the district from other parts of the country, where 144 incidents have been reported since May.

The National Farmers Union group secretary for Selby and Goole, Phil Musson, an NFU Mutual insurance agent, said: “We have seen an increase in thefts involving larger agricultural machines. Ultimately it is organised crime.

“Most of the vehicles end up being exported to Cyprus, Afghanistan, Africa and all over the globe.

“It is very difficult for farmers, most of these machines are needed at all times of the year.

“This is being reported across Yorkshire and the whole of the country and in the more rural spots it is obviously more of a problem.

“The rise is partly due to the price of metal going up and partly because the security of cars has much improved over the past few years.

“Security with tractors hasn’t kept pace with that.”

To combat the rise, farmers are now being encouraged to adopt the CESAR Scheme, already used on JCBs and excavators, where equipment is fitted with sophisticated tracking devices and each part of machinery is marked and logged on a database.

As part of the new police operation in Selby, dubbed ANZAC, which is aiming to combat all types of rural vehicle theft, officers will be targeting hot spots around the district.

Acting Sgt David Hunter, of Selby Rural Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “It is unusual to have a such a high number of vehicle thefts and thefts from vehicles in such a short space of time in Selby district.

“We have put Operation ANZAC in place to target those responsible, gather vital intelligence and offer reassurance to our communities, particularly those in rural locations.

“We are increasing patrols in hot spot areas at the key times and will be on the lookout for unusual activity as well as stopping and questioning people we believe are behaving suspiciously.

“We hope that our high-visibility patrols will help to deter potential offenders and prevent any further incidents.

“I am appealing to the community to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activity immediately.

“It is important that vehicles are emptied of valuables, particularly commercial vehicles and those belonging to trades people as they are generally targeted by thieves looking for tools and machinery.”

Earlier this week, NFU Mutual issued a new report revealing almost two-thirds of its branches across the country reported an increase in rural crime.

Nationwide figures show oil and diesel, metal, machinery and livestock were commonly reported stolen in claims by farmers, businesses and rural homeowners.

Thefts of power tools such as chainsaws, lawnmowers and jet-washers increased by 12 per cent last year.