Rural officers join forces to tackle high value machinery and agricultural thefts

A network of rural policing specialists from around the UK are making strides in the fight against high-value machinery and agricultural thefts – recently seizing £100k of stolen equipment with help from Lithuanian colleagues.

Last spring, a new multi-force team, known as Opal ACE (Agricultural and Construction Equipment), was created to help further disrupt criminals targeting these types of businesses.

Spearheaded by Northumbria Police Superintendent Andy Huddleston, the team are celebrating recent successful collaborations with counterparts both in the UK – and abroad.

Earlier this month, officers worked with colleagues in Lithuania to seize more than £100,000 of GPS equipment which was found to have been stolen from a farm in Norfolk.

Supt Huddleston said: “The theft of high-value equipment from farms and rural businesses has a truly devastating impact on victims and their livelihoods.