Crime gangs target farm equipment to sell abroad
Targeting Badly Scotland, Same Have The Rural Ireland Gangs Wales And With All Northern Suffered England, Areas Criminal
Crime gangs have gone high-tech in targeting specialised farm equipment for theft and possibly export to Eastern Europe.
The satellite-based Global Positioning Systems (GPS) is now a common feature of agricultural machinery.
But there have been recent incidents of the equipment being stolen from farms by organised criminals.
Tractors and machinery have been damaged during the thefts, adding to the expense and disruption for the victims.
The Irish Farmers Association has urged farmers, contractors, and machinery owners to be on the alert.
Deputy president Alice Doyle has advised them to take urgent and immediate actions to protect their property including machinery, tools and equipment, and particularly GPS systems.
Thieves recently stole six systems with an estimated value of up to €100,000 in the Wexford area and in North Dublin.
“We’re asking Gardai to work with other agencies to see if these stolen items can be prevented from leaving the State for Eastern Europe and beyond and returned to their owners.
“It is very important that this cycle of theft of specialised equipment is stopped. IFA is calling for the establishment of a dedicated Garda Rural Safety Unit to tackle what has become an international business for organised crime gangs,” she said.
Alice Doyle said the war in Ukraine and the subsequent embargo on Russia had led to a criminal market for the supply of agricultural equipment.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all suffered badly with the same criminal gangs targeting rural areas.
The IFA Deputy President said Northern Ireland, Scotland and several of the UK regions have dedicated rural crime teams solely focused on these crimes and their prevention.
“They liaise with other agencies and police forces in a co-ordinated approach, sharing intelligence and best practices. Ireland needs the same.
“The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Garda Commissioner Drew Harris should establish such a unit immediately,” she said.
The IFA is advising members to remove, where possible, the GPS systems from their vehicles and store them in a secure area, which is alarmed and CCTV monitored.
Farmers should also record the serial number, photograph it and store it for safekeeping. There is also a free Garda Siochána App to record and index property.
Property marking machines in every county can be accessed through the Local Authority, the Garda Crime Prevention Officer or Property Marking Ireland.
The IFA says this is a very important and practical measure. Items are marked with an Eircode in several places. A property marking sticker means the item is traceable and, therefore, not of interest to criminals.
Motion sensor lights and CCTV cameras which send phone alerts are also recommended.
