Government urged to widen equipment theft act to cover GPS systems

The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act must be expanded to include agricultural equipment such as GPS systems, the NFU has said, amid a recent surge in thefts.

The call for action follows months of collaboration between the industry and government which led to the passing of the act, aimed at deterring the theft of quads and ATVs.

However, the legislation does not cover high-value equipment such as GPS systems, which are frequently targeted by highly organised criminal gangs.

Farm machinery theft cost the UK a staggering £49 million in 2022 alone, according to NFU Mutual.