The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has today (Friday, August 9) warned that GPS equipment on farm machinery in Northern Ireland is being “targeted” by thieves.
UFU legislation chair, David McCracken, said, “GPS equipment is valuable and as more farmers are using this technology to help guide farm machinery such as tractors and combine harvesters, rural thieves are being selective with the farms and agricultural dealerships they are targeting.
“The summer is busy in the farming calendar with harvest, silage and preparing land for winter fodder.
“The theft of GPS kits hinders farming operations as well as creating additional pressures for farming families.”
McCracken said intelligence shows offenders are willing to travel the “length and breadth” of Northern Ireland to steal GPS kits.
“They then seek buyers overseas ready to buy what equipment that has clearly been stolen,” he added.
The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland fell by 21.3% last year to an estimated £2 million, according to NFU Mutual’s latest rural crime report.
However, the cost of GPS unit thefts rose by 137% to £4.2 million.
Although the overall cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland dropped, NFU Mutual has warned that the increasing organisation and sophistication of criminals has seen high-value equipment in the countryside targeted by thieves.
Farm security
The UFU is urging members to take appropriate measures to protect their business. It said farmers should review and update security on farms.
The advice to safeguard GPS devices is to remove the equipment when not in use and store it away from machinery.
“Farmers should also take photographs of the kit, record serial numbers and activate pin numbers to help recover the kit, should it be stolen,” McCracken said.
“Members can also mark the GPS devices so that they are no longer attractive for resale by adding a postcode or farm name.
“If you notice any suspicious behaviour in your area, contact the PSNI immediately.”
