Two men remanded over multiple farm GPS thefts

Two men have appeared in court charged in connection with a series of high-value agricultural GPS thefts across northern England.

Aidas Cinga, 27, and Damantas Skeltys, 28, both of no fixed abode, appeared at Preston Crown Court last week charged with conspiring to steal from a motor vehicle.

Both men have been remanded in custody to appear at the same court on 16 September for a plea and case management hearing.

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This case is part of a larger, co-ordinated effort by multiple police forces, including those from Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire, and Humberside, along with the National Rural Crime Unit.

The operation targeted international organised crime groups that have been focusing on UK farms.

Supt Andy Huddleston, from the National Rural Crime Unit and serving as the national policing lead for construction and agricultural theft, highlighted the collaborative nature of the operation.

International effort

He emphasised the ongoing efforts to tackle these crimes, which also involve working with law enforcement agencies in France and Germany.

Farmers are being urged to remain vigilant, and Supt Huddleston expressed gratitude to insurer NFU Mutual for its significant assistance in both this investigation and broader efforts to combat GPS thefts on farms across the UK.

NFU Mutual’s latest rural crime report revealed that claims for GPS thefts cost £4.2m in 2023, a year-on-year rise of 137%, accounting for nearly 8% of all claims from farmers in the year.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact police by calling 101.