New taskforce clamps down on farm and plant machinery theft

POLICE forces across the country are clamping down on the theft of farm and plant machinery.

Thames Valley Police Rural Crime Taskforce, Joint Operations Unit and Heavy Commercial Unit has partnered with Hampshire Constabulary and Sussex Police to perform vehicle checks and offer crime prevention advice.

The operation has been in place for five months and has already recovered about half a million pounds of stolen property from 30 different police force locations across the country.

Police hope that by checking vehicles travelling with heavy machinery on main roads and helping owners understand the importance of crime security that they can deter offenders.

Rural Crime Taskforce Inspector, Stuart Hutchings, said: “The aim is a multi-team operation focusing on tackling plant theft, farm theft, trailers, caravans, and horse boxes that are being stolen.

“We understand that offenders will travel around to commit crime and the stolen property will be moved around so it’s important for us to work with our neighbouring forces, regionally and nationally, to focus on identifying stolen property and the offenders.”