The number of tractor thefts has increased by 20 per cent in the past year and in Gloucestershire 33 have disappeared in the past three years, the National Farmers Union said. A farmer in the county who had fitted his with a tracking device was told it was in northern Cyprus. Roy Limbrick has been told it could be years before he sees the £20,000 tractor again, if ever.
Theft of other kinds of agricultural equipment is also increasing, a trend highlighted recently by a Gloucester Crown Court judge. Judge Jamie Tabor, QC, said: “Tractors, agricultural vehicles and all hand-held tools appear to be stolen in vast quantities. Tractors are very valuable and very easy to start but can only be stolen in a pre-planned operation — in other words, organised crime.”
This has in fact been going on for years - tractors are far easier to steal than cars (most of them have same key) and are worth more. Some of them wind up as far away as Australia.
Longer story here
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