Dyfed-Powys Police has shared advice to farmers on how to secure their assets as the theft of farm machinery in the area continues to be a growing concern.

The police has said that farms and the expensive equipment needed to run them have become a major target for thieves and organised criminals in the UK.

The cost of the theft can be devastating for farms, not to mention the inconvenience of replacing the equipment and the loss of time.

Dyfed-Powys Police has shared the following advice by Secured by Design:

The first step is to assess and review your farm’s existing security. You know your farm better than anyone else so walk around and conduct a survey.

Work from the outside boundaries of the farm inwards to the farmhouse and office, try to think about your land and property from the perspective of a potential thief.

This is referred to as the “onion peeling principle”.

There are 3 key areas where you can be most effective in reducing the likelihood of crime on your farm.

1 - To deter: Measures you can use to make it harder for a criminal to identify your farm as an easy target. For example, parking machinery out of sight or removing the keys and locking them in a safe or security cabinet.

2 - To delay: Measures you can use to make it more difficult for a criminal to physically break into your building or trespass on your land to take away your property. For example, maintaining fencing, hedges, ditches and gates around the farm building or using an approved hitch lock and wheel clamp on a livestock trailer.

3 - To detect: Measures that you can use to help detect if a criminal tries to break into your farm building or attempts to steal your property. For example, installing an alarm system to your farm office or CCTV covering your fuel tanks.

Look for any weaknesses in your security — like boundary fences, hedges and gates. Can the gates be locked and are you using a security rated lock or padlock?

Once you have identified any weakness through conducting the survey you will need to work towards improving the situation - if you know your fuel tanks are in a vulnerable location don’t wait until you have been a victim before doing anything about it.

Please speak to your local police’s rural crime team who may be able to assist with a survey and identify any crime trends in your local area.

For further advice on different areas of your farm, and securing other assets, visit: https://www.securedbydesign.com/farm-security-and-machinery?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo&utm_content=Crime+Prevention