Roving criminal gangs raid farms for GPS systems

Gangs of rural thieves have been raiding farms, stealing high-value global positioning system (GPS) receiver domes and guidance systems from tractors and combine harvesters, causing huge disruption to farmers finishing off harvest.

About 40 GPS systems were stolen from farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and neighbouring Hertfordshire overnight on Tuesday (7 September), according to reports.

The crime spree has cost farmers around £500,000 in losses. It has also caused major inconvenience and lost time with machines being down when many farms still have crops to combine – following the late-running harvest – and others are looking at drilling.

See also: Farmers advised to check GPS is insured against theft

Eveey Hunter, a young farmer based in Hertfordshire, told the Farmers Weekly podcast that thieves broke into two tractors and a combine harvester at the farm overnight on Tuesday 7 September.

They ripped out the GPS screens and control terminals, causing around £30,000 worth of damage, which delayed the team from finishing harvest.

Ms Hunter said her Fendt dealer told her that 32 customers in the region and neighbouring counties alone reported GPS thefts that also happened overnight on Tuesday.

Andrew Francis, farms director at the 9,100ha Elveden Estate on the Norfolk-Suffolk border, was among those targeted.

Mr Francis tweeted: “Be wary Twitter friends. Seven tractors broken into last night. Built-in screens and GPS equipment taken. All seven currently out of action.”

Be wary Twitter friends. 7 tractors broken into last night. Built in screens and gps equipment taken. All 7 currently out of action @RuralPolicingSC

— Andrew Francis (PFIAgrM. ARAgS) (@AndrewF1882) September 8, 2021

A spokesperson for NFU East Anglia said: “This is the second time in 12 months we have had such an organised targeting of GPS systems.

“We have worked closely with the police and other partners to share intelligence that led to arrests last time.

“It is disappointing that the organised criminals are back targeting GPS screens at such an important time of year.”

Be extra vigilant

Rural insurer NFU Mutual is advising farmers to be extra vigilant, remove systems where possible and return machinery to locked sheds or out of sight. 

NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist Rebecca Davidson said: “Criminal gangs are hitting farms hard in one county and quickly moving to another to avoid detection.

“The roving gangs are stealing all makes and models of GPS control units, together with screens and domes.

“The thieves have been taking advantage of harvest time, spotting targets as farmers work flat out to get crops in and use tractors and combine harvesters away from the farmstead.”

These GPS thefts are “incredibly disruptive” to farmers as they are resulting in delays to harvesting and cultivating work while new equipment is sourced and fitted, she added.

Continental crime

Chris Piggott, who co-ordinates the agricultural vehicle crime unit of the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Police Service, said German police working with UK police recently infiltrated a Lithuanian organised crime gang, seizing 80 suspected stolen GPS devices from across Europe ­– of which 23 were taken in the UK.

“High demand for GPS equipment is fuelling this type of crime, and we are urging people to do careful checks on the sellers before purchasing second-hand items online,” said Det Cons Piggott. 

NFU Mutual is urging farmers to report suspicious activity, including drones over farms, unknown vehicles visiting that are not known to the farm, or trespassers on 101, or 999 if a crime is taking place.