Police and NFU issue advice on how to deter rural crime in Eden

Officers in Eden are advising farmers to consider security measures to deter the theft of machinery by criminals targeting rural communities.

There has been an increase in the theft of machinery across the UK. In Cumbria, communities are increasingly being targeted by organised criminal gangs.

As part of Cumbria police’s work to tackle rural crime, it continues to take part in Operation Checkpoint.

Operation Checkpoint is an ongoing proactive initiative that targets cross border criminal activity in order to disrupt organised criminal groups and protect communities by acting on the latest intelligence.

In Eden, this initiative is supported greatly by volunteers from the local community, who alongside Appleby NFU have developed a hugely supported crime prevention group, Country Watch Eden.

On March 30 officers took part in one of the largest checkpoint operations yet, alongside officers from Durham Constabulary, Cleveland Police, Northumbria Constabulary, Lancashire Constabulary and North and West Yorkshire Police.

PC Richard Kemp from Eden Neighbourhood policing team said: “Eden is a very large rural community which unfortunately has been targeted by organised criminals crossing from bordering counties.

“The theft of not just quadbikes but other machinery disrupts our communities and adversely affects the local economy.

“It could be a suspicious vehicle or person or someone driving a quad bike you don’t recognise or who seems out of place with the vehicle or circumstances. We are asking you to follow your instincts and report to police.

“Officers continue to patrol to provide reassurance to victims and communities, however, to assist us in our efforts to apprehend these criminals, please report any suspicious activity or vehicles they see to the police.”

Report any suspicious activity to police or via the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111. Your call may stop another from becoming a victim of a crime.

PC Kemp continued: “Steps can also be taken to deter the theft of machinery.

“After the removal of keys, trackers and immobilisers are the most effective measures against quad theft, acting as both a deterrent and increasing the chance of police recovering the vehicle and catching the criminals responsible.”

If you’d like a crime prevention visit, call 101.

Protect your machinery

Remove keys and keep them stored securely, away from the vehicle
When not in use, keep quads and ATVs locked up and out of sight
Install tracking devices and immobilisers to make it easier for police to recover stolen vehicles – most modern tracking devices are GPS enabled, with alarms/alerts that will send a message informing you if your machine is being tampered with
Use Construction Equipment Security and Registration Scheme (Cesar) marking to deter thieves and enable police to identify stolen machinery
Target-harden your quad by creating a security cage or use a mechanical device such as a steering brake/lock, ground anchor or wheel clamp when not in use
Know what you own – keep records of serial numbers and photographs of your kit, including unique identifying features
When buying a new quad, insist on a chipped key and immobilisation system

Amanda Wallbank, from NFU Mutual Appleby, said: “Criminals are more determined and more prolific than ever before.

“Farming machinery is vital for farmers, and we see that these thefts are hitting the community hard with the difficulties in replacing kit due to delays and shortages.

“We cannot emphasise enough the importance of simple security measures such as removing keys from machines and securing machinery when not in use.

“Trackers and CCTV are also a good tool to deter criminals, trackers also provide the increased chance that the machinery is found.

“We offer discounts on products so please get in touch or visit our website for details.”