Two men have been remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court next month over the suspected thefts of “multiple high value agricultural GPS units”.
Lancashire Police said the thefts occured across the North of England.
27-year-old Aidas Cinga, of no fixed abode, has been charged with conspiring to steal from a motor vehicle.
28-year-old Damantas Skeltys, of no fixed abode, has been charged with the same offence.
This was a multi-force operation involving officers from Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, and the National Rural Crime Unit.
Supt Andy Huddleston from the National Rural Crime Unit and national policing lead for Theft of Construction and Agricultural Theft said:
“This was a collaborative effort between a number of forces to tackle what is international organised crime targeting UK farms, and we’re also working with our law enforcement colleagues in France and Germany.
“We would ask farmers to remain vigilant and are grateful to the NFU Mutual who have assisted greatly in not just this investigation but also the wider tackling of GPS thefts across the UK.”
GPS units
NFU Mutual’s recent rural crime report revealed that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £52.8 million in 2023, up from £50.6 million the previous year.
The cost of GPS unit thefts rose by 137% to £4.2 million.
Rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, Hannah Binns, said this is “incredibly alarming” for people who live and work in the countryside.
“While the overall cost of agricultural vehicle theft fell, thanks to co-ordinated efforts, it is concerning to see the value of GPS and ATV thefts continue to rise, with thieves turning to technology to scope out locations,” she said.
“Intelligence highlights these criminals often target several farms in one night before moving locations, then return weeks later looking to steal any replacements.”
