A new Farmwatch scheme has been launched to combat rural crime across four counties.
Following an increase in the theft of valuable farming equipment such as ride-on mowers, generators and batteries for irrigation pumps, the initiative is offering SelectaDNA property marking kits to farming community members across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Suffolk.
Farmwatch shares information on crimes and offenders and provides a link between farmers and the police.
Danny Cracknell from Farmwatch said: “There is a particular problem with the theft of heavy duty machine batteries at the moment. They can cost anywhere between £80-£200 to replace. Another popular target for thieves is electric fence units which can cost up to £90 each time.”
Tractors and plant are also targeted and regularly stolen from farm yards and open fields. Stolen items can sometimes be transported hundreds of miles after being stolen.
Danny continued: “Our new scheme offers members the chance to mark farm items with SelectaDNA so that their valuable equipment is traceable should it be stolen and later recovered by police.
“The main message has to be to make sure your property is secure. Do not leave anything in the field unless absolutely necessary. We would encourage members to make sure all their property is identifiable by using the kits we are offering. If your property is identifiable it is less likely to be stolen as it not easy to sell it on.”
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