The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) is urging growers and distributors of plant protein products (PPPs) to be on high alert following a “well organised” break in at an agrochemical store.
Farmers and PPP distributors are being warned that thieves are looking to steal valuable agrochemical products, following an attempted raid on a major distributor’s store in Norfolk this month.
The AIC said the break in occured just after midnight, and the thieves severed the building’s communication lines before climbing onto the roof to gain entry to where the PPP’s were stored.
When the alarm system was triggered, calling staff and police out to the site, the thieves abandoned their raid and fled empty-handed.
A police investigation suggested that the gang had knowledge of the site and experience with roofing based on precision tools left behind at the scene.
‘Relentlessness of rural crime‘
AIC head of crop protection and agronomy, Hazel Doonan, said routinely reviewing security arrangements is always a prudent step for any agricultural business to take given the “relentlessness of rural crime”.
“In light of this case, farmers and growers should be extremely wary if they are offered product that appears to be exceptionally cheap or does not come from a known and reputable distribution company,” she said.
“Inadvertently handling stolen goods has the potential to damage a business’s reputation and risks criminal proceedings.
“Any business or individual selling or supplying professional PPPs must hold the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection.
“We strongly urge anyone who is approached to buy PPPs from an unknown or suspicious seller to report the details to the police by calling 101, or to make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers UK by calling 0800 555 111.”
