Farm machinery is also been stolen to order for export abroad
It has recently been reported that farms
across the UK are being targeted by gangs
of thieves out to steal farm machinery of
high value. Tractors are stolen to order
and in 2008 machinery worth £36 million.
The theft of farm machinery is a lucrative
business as the stolen goods are easy to
sell on. There is not the same regulation
for buying and selling heavy machinery
and vehicles as there is for other vehicles
and so it is easy for thieves to conceal
stolen equipment and sell it on. Tractors
and Quad bikes make up the most
numbers of stolen farm machinery and the
recession has increased the demand for
various types farm machinery.
But thieves were quick to recognise new
ways to cash in on the economic climate.
When commodity prices rose in 2006
and 2007, there was a large increase
in the theft of metal from farms, with
farmers reporting pipes, gates and heavy
machinery. When oil prices rose there was
a 30% increase in incidents of red diesel
being stolen from farms.
Farm machinery is also been stolen to
order for export abroad. In 2007 farm
machinery thefts rose by over 40% in
England and much of this was the theft of
high value tractors, sto