£9k GPS dome stolen from tractor on Hertfordshire farm
9th August 2024
Hertfordshire farmer Geoff Simms has fallen victim to rural crime after thieves ripped the GPS dome from the roof of his John Deere tractor.
The stolen GPS dome, worth £9,000, left Mr Simms with a major headache for his arable business.
He said that the claim was quickly settled, but the inconvenience of losing such a vital piece of equipment in June last year took longer to resolve, leaving him without the GPS set for almost a month.
He added: “We are arable farmers and contractors, with a small amount of livestock.
“For our business a GPS system is an absolutely vital piece of equipment. These systems have long since stopped just being a luxury driving aid, they are an essential part of the operation.”
Stepping up security
Mr Simms confirmed that on the night the thieves struck, the tractor had been left outside.
“We are aware of the desirability of this kit with thieves, and we always try to keep it locked away – we either take the GPS domes off the machinery or put the tractors in a locked barn.
“This was a rare lapse, and the tractor was just about visible over the top of a hedge from a bend in the road.
“I knew when I woke up the next day and opened my bedroom curtains and saw the tractor just what had happened,” he continued.
The farmer said that since then he has “stepped up security”. He gated and locked areas for farm vehicles and CCTV cameras, but he admitted protecting farms from thieves was demanding, adding time and effort at the end of a long working day removing GPS systems and screens and locking away the kit.
Mr Simms added that while it was important for farmers to use social media and other channels to promote the industry, they needed to be careful not to give away too much information about where valuable equipment was stored, to avoid encouraging the thieves.
Cost of rural crime
The latest figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual have revealed that the cost of rural crime in the UK has exceeded the estimated £50 million last year.
In a sign of the increasing organisation and sophistication of criminals, Global Positioning System (GPS) units were targeted by gangs throughout 2023, causing the value of claims to NFU Mutual to rocket by 137% to an estimated £4.2m.
Intelligence shows thieves frequently target several farms in one night before moving locations to steal these highly valuable and portable kits, often revisiting farmyards weeks later to steal any replacements, the insurer said.
Read more rural crime news.
