Crime reduction 

Farm equipment

Please consider the crime prevention advice below to help you protect your farm equipment.

Implements and tools

• When possible, lock tools and small items of machinery inside a secure building.
• To prevent the theft of batteries, tools and accessories, avoid leaving tractors and other farm implements in fields.
• Keep valuable machinery away from public roads when not in use.
• Consider making a secure cage or structure for smaller items which should be sited within a secure and alarmed building.
• Record the make and serial number of power tools - an up-to-date inventory is vital.
• Mark or stamp easily removed items with your postcode, followed by the first two letters of your farm’s name, or other identifying marks. Read more about how to mark your property.

Vehicles

Four-wheel drive vehicles, trailers, caravans and quad bikes can all be a target for thieves. There are many anti-theft devices available such as alarms, immobilisers and tracking systems.

• Lock your vehicle and use security devices. Trailers and horse boxes are particularly vulnerable.
• Where possible, secure them inside a garage or similar building.
• Mark them and make them unique – use large letters on the roof. Record serial/chassis numbers and photograph them.

Fuel thefts

Pumps should have locking devices and/or isolator switches and, where possible, they should be housed in a secure location.

Field gates

• Field gate hinges should be of the capped or inverted type to prevent easy removal.
• Make regular checks to see if they have been tampered with. If you believe they have been tampered with, contact your local police via 101, the 24-hour Thames Valley Police non-emergency number.
• Mark gates to make them unique to your farm.
• Gates that are locked with good quality chains or padlocks are more difficult to steal.