Theft of JCB loader stops harvest at Cambs farm
21st August 2024
Harvest is on hold at the farm after organised criminals broke into a locked grain shed to steal the loader, bypassing security measures.
Cambridgeshire farmer Stephen Briggs woke on Monday morning (19th August) to find his JCB telescopic loader had been stolen overnight, with thieves using a crowbar to break into his grain shed.
It was stolen sometime during the night after being locked away at 9pm on Sunday evening.
CCTV was disabled, the battery isolator bypassed and a seat cover removed from the machine in a bid to remove DNA evidence.
The organised criminals brought their own keys and used the loader to smash open the triple locked roller shutter doors.
Exiting the farm, they even managed to evade a secure gate by driving over a neighbour’s wheat field, damaging the crop to get the loader out.
The machine was subsequently used to steal a cash machine at a local Spar post office.
Harvest stalled
The loader was recovered but as it’s been damaged, Stephen is now awaiting a decision from his insurance company on whether it will be repaired or replaced.
Until then, harvest cannot continue.
The farm had just 10-12% left to harvest and has already had to cancel lorries for straw and grain.
Whilst not wanting to scare other farmers, Stephen said his message is to be under no illusion, potential thieves are watching all the time, and they are a threat to farming families and businesses.
His farm is part of a WhatsApp group with local farmers and residents who share information and video footage if they see any suspicious activity – which he says has been very useful.
Soured harvest
Stephen is a first-generation farmer at the county council farm in Cambridgeshire, which grows fruit and cereals, and is currently harvesting oats. It also has the largest agroforestry system in the UK.
Harvest yields had been down about 12-15% but with good quality and bushel weights. They were able to cut at 11.5-12% moisture so it had been an easy harvest helped by the prolonged dry weather.
Stephen said the whole harvest had progressed well but has been soured by the break in, causing added stress at an already fraught time of year.
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