LEADING rural insurer NFU Mutual has joined forces with police and agricultural machinery manufacturers to tackle a surge in thefts of expensive guidance systems .

Across Europe , thefts of tractor GPS systems have surged as criminals target the expensive guidance systems now extensively used to guide farm machinery . Many of the stolen systems are John Deere StarFire receivers and cab display units – but other systems are increasingly being stolen .

In the UK , thefts have spread from East Anglia , where they first became commonplace ,

and police and insurers are now dealing with thefts all across the UK . In recent weeks , NaVCIS , the police agricultural vehicle theft co-ordination organisation funded by NFU Mutual , is being alerted to multiple GPS thefts from farms and machinery dealers almost every day .

To help stamp out the crime wave , farmers are being urged to rigorously check that any GPS kit offered for sale outside dealer networks has not been stolen .

Bob Henderson , NFU Mutual National Technical Engineering Manager , said : “ Having tractor GPS kit stolen during harvest is hugely disruptive . Not only

do replacement units – which can cost £ 8,000 and more – have to be sourced , fitted and programmed , but modern farms can ’ t work effectively during the vital harvesting period without them .

“ As the main insurer of the UK ’ s farmers we are working with police and tractor manufacturers to tackle this worrying new crime trend .”

To help the checking process , John Deere has a system enabling farmers to call their local dealership to check the serial number of its popular StarFire GPS system . The company ’ s database includes a marker for stolen equipment – but stresses that not all John Deere thefts are reported to it , and that the system cannot provide proof that equipment offered for sale online is legitimate .

If you are unfortunate to have John Deere stolen , the theft can be reported to local John Deere dealers so it can be logged in the system .

To make it more difficult for criminals to sell-on stolen StarFire GPS systems , John Deere included a PIN security feature in its StarFire 6000 series , launched in February 2019 .

Superintendent Andy Huddleston , national police

lead for agricultural machinery and vehicle thefts , said : “ Making careful checks on the provenance of any GPS kit offered for sale outside the dealer network can stop criminals making money from these crimes and halt the surge .

“ The service introduced by John Deere dealers makes these checks easier by enabling farmers to quickly check if a StarFire serial number is on their database of stolen systems .”

He also urged farmers to be very wary of buying GPS kits which have had serial number stickers removed .

NFU Mutual GPS security checklist :

• Activate PIN security on GPS kit with your own unique number

• Keep tractors and combines with GPS fitted stored out of sight when possible

• Check serial numbers of second-hand kit offered for sale

• Remove GPS kit from tractors and other machinery and store it securely when not in use