Increases in tractor and quad thefts in some regions have prompted rural insurer, NFU Mutual, to stage a farm security exhibit at LAMMA, Peterborough (January 20 – 21).
Tractor theft claims costs were up by over 13% in the first nine months of 2015 in East Anglia, the Midlands and the South East.
Theft of quads also remains high with claims rising in some regions and falling in others.
NFU Mutual’s Agricultural vehicle security specialist, Clive Harris, will be available to talk to farmers at LAMMA to help them understand rural crime trends in their areas and put in place effective security measures to minimise the risk of vehicle and machinery theft.
“Years of experience working with farmers and police to tackle rural crime has taught us one important message: thieves don’t go away; if you improve security in one area they will step back, and seek a way to bypass your security measures – or find something else they can steal from farms and sell-on,” he said.
“This sadly means famers face a continual battle to stay one step ahead of the thieves, by keeping an ear to the ground to follow local crime trends and continually reviewing and improving security.”
NFU Mutual has provided more than £600,000 to fund police specialist units to coordinate activity tackling agricultural vehicle crime. This investment, combined with premium discounts for farmers fitting approved security devices to tractors, has helped reduce tractor theft by over a third from a record £9.7 million in 2010 to £5.4 million in 2014.
Top tips to tackle rural crime:
• Protect vehicles by registering them with CESAR
• Remove keys and lock vehicles when unattended
• Install security lights in yards
• Have the Vehicle Identification Number etched on vehicle windows
• Secure quads using heavy duty security chains or locking devices
• Ensure all machinery is locked out of sight in buildings overnight
• Prevent opportunist theft by locking yard gates
• Fit good quality immobiliser devices (preferably Thatcham accredited)
• Consider Telematics/tracking technology, which gives the location of vehicles 24/7
