How to prevent against theft on farm

Machinery theft

Steps you can take to prevent machinery theft happening on your land:

• Where possible, vehicles should be housed in a lockable garage or building, ideally with security lighting installed to the perimeter.
• Vehicles should always be locked when not in use, with the keys kept hidden and locked away in a secure location.
• Keep recordings or photographs of serial numbers and vehicles as these can be crucial in recovery, should the worst happen.

Steps you can take to prevent theft of quads and all-terrain vehicles:

• Invest in a bespoke quad security device, such as Quadvice or a quality padlock and chain, such as those approved by Secured By Design – a police approved product scheme.
• Securing to a fixed point on the ground or something that takes time to remove will also act as a deterrent.
• Never leave your keys in the ignition, even if you only briefly leave your ATV unattended.
• Keep gates to yards closed as open gates can be an open invitation to thieves.

Steps you can take to prevent theft of tractors:

• Mark machinery with DNA marking devices and SmartWater tools.
• Sign up to CESAR, an agricultural equipment registration scheme, which increases the chance of recovering stolen goods by helping police identify stolen machinery
• Have the Vehicle Identification Number etched on windows. This makes the vehicle more detectable and less appealing to thieves because they have to grind out the numbers.
• Install immobilisers, chip keys and trackers as these are a simple way to deter criminals or track vehicles and can be fitted easily by an experienced agricultural engineer.

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Fuel theft

Steps you can take to prevent fuel theft happening on your land:

• Store fuel tanks within secure buildings or cages, keeping them locked and alarmed.
• Install an anti-siphon device on vehicles.
• Protect fuel tanks by equipping them with an alarm that will sound when fuel levels drop.
• Install CCTV that focuses on fuel tanks.
• Keep a regular inventory so you can identify missing fuel.

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Livestock theft

Steps you can take to prevent livestock theft happening on your land:

• Padlock all gates.
• Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date.
• Graze livestock away from roads.
• Check stock regularly and at varying times.
• Consider a high-tech system such as TecTracer, which puts thousands of coded microdot markers into the fleece. The codes are virtually impossible to removed. Use signs to show that livestock are marked with the product.
• Ask neighbours to report unusual vehicles loading sheep.
• Gate or fence alarms.

What to do if you are a victim of livestock theft:

• Contact the police immediately (999 if a crime is in progress, 101 if it has already happened).
• Contact your insurers who will provide further advice. At NFU Mutual, farmers are covered for theft and mysterious disappearance. It must be reported to the police and a crime
• reference must be given
• Use social media. The more details you can share on social media, such as sheep breed, age, marking, ear tag numbers, the better.

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Who to call and when?

Urgent: If a crime is in progress dial 999.

Non-urgent: Dial 101 to report a crime after it has taken place. 

More from NFUonline:

Security

How to protect yourself from GPS theft from farm machinery

Consultation

Agricultural machinery and equipment theft – NFU response

Closed 13 July 2023