Joint letter urges government action on GPS thefts

Five MPs have joined a police chief in an open letter urging immediate government action to enhance security on farm equipment, particularly against a troubling rise in GPS thefts.

Recent data from NFU Mutual indicates a staggering 137% increase in insurance claims for GPS theft in 2023, totalling around £4.2m.

Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price has linked the surge in thefts to potential involvement from Eastern European organised crime gangs, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

See also: Farmers warned of fresh spate of GPS thefts

These gangs are reportedly targeting multiple farms in one night and frequently returning to steal replaced devices, which can cost up to £20,000 each.

Cheshire PCC Dan Price with the MPs and Supt Andy Huddleston, head of the National Rural Crime Unit © Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

The theft of GPS technology not only incurs the immediate cost of the equipment on the farmer but also disrupts vital agricultural operations, delaying essential work and affecting productivity during critical weather windows.

Mr Price’s open letter urges equipment manufacturers to add forensic marking to GPS devices, quad bikes, tractors, and excavators, aiming to deter theft and facilitate tracking of stolen equipment.

The letter also calls on the new Labour government to revise the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include modern immobilisation and forensic marking on all agricultural machinery.

Mr Price said action is needed to “protect the livelihoods of rural communities, not only in Cheshire but across the UK”.

Mr Price’s initiative has gained support from five Cheshire MPs, the NFU, the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU), and local farmers.

Farmer support

Cheshire potato and arable farmer Andy Shaw said his family farm in Runcorn has been burgled three times over the past decade. On the last two occasions, the thieves ripped the GPS screens and units out of his tractors.

Mr Shaw said: “The legislation changes also need to be brought in, not only on new and modern farm machinery but also older models, as some tractors are 10 years old.

“They’re not a cheap item to replace, and manufacturers know we need them and have brand loyalty so any help they could provide to prevent the costs coming straight from farmer’s pockets would be great.”

The Home Office responded by saying the government has plans for tougher measures to combat rural crime, including enhanced neighbourhood policing and stronger laws aimed at preventing the theft and resale of high-value agricultural equipment.