Working 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 theft of machinery across the UK.

In Cumbria we have seen our communities increasingly targeted by organised criminal gangs.

As part of our work to tackle rural crime we continue 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 our 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 forces.

PC Richard Kemp, of Eden's 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.

"We are asking you to follow your instincts and report to police.

"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.

"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."

He added: "We need you to be vigilant.

"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.

"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.”

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."