The theft of farming machinery, with tractors, tele-handlers and quads being the most at risk items, continues to rise. Police forces and farm watch groups around the country are reporting spates of incidents with some areas describing the problem as an epidemic. The new wave is being fuelled by a number of factors, including economic pressures, criminal gangs identifying what they see as ‘soft’ targets (it’s no secret that ignition keys offer little or no protection) and also a huge demand for quality machinery from abroad.

“Organised crime gangs are quick to identify new or emerging markets. We’ve always had a problem with assets being shipped to Eastern Europe and Africa, but even more of a concern is the spread to Afghanistan and Iraq. Valuable agricultural and plant equipment are currently in massive demand as both countries re-build”

The vast majority of stolen agricultural or plant equipment is never seen again, with less than 5% typically being recovered. Fitting a tracker, however, can quite literally reverse these worrying statistics. A recent news item from the itv Anglia Tonight – click here to view (opens in a new window) – highlights just how effective they can be.

Skytag have been working closely with a number of police forces, insurers and also Police farm watch networks to help machinery owners better protect their equipment.

Guy Topsom, Managing Director added ‘Even with increased security, it’s not always possible to prevent thefts, particularly where equipment has to be left in remote locations. The good news though, is that fitting Skytag does dramatically increase the chances of fast recovery, in fact we have never failed to track a lost asset’

Insurance claims are costly and time consuming but the disruption caused by not having a particular piece of equipment when it’s needed or the additional expense of hiring replacements are the most common complaints from the victims of theft.

If you’re concerned about crime in your area or would like to discuss how to best protect your assets call Skytag on 0845 388 6062.

Additional coverage regarding these issues can be found at:

http://www.info4security.com/story.asp?storyCode=4123132&sectioncode=9


http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2010/04/19/120839/Tractor-theft-warning-in-Lincolnshire.htm