Crime protection advice
Machinery, tools and plant equipment
If possible, secure or immobilise vehicles or pieces of equipment when they're not in use. Again, if practical, try to move machinery from fields, especially if it's near a road. Always keep tools, etc, locked away out of sight.
To help identify your property:
Use engravers to mark vehicles and equipment with your postcode, followed by the first two letters of your farm's name.
Keep a record of serial, chassis and model numbers.
Fuel and oil theft
With the price of crude oil rising, oil theft is becoming
increasingly common. For advice on how to reduce this in your area,
please visit our fuel and oil theft prevention
page.
Livestock
Animals can be an easy target for thieves. Regularly check the fields where your animals are grazing.
Keep your hedges, fences and gates in good repair. Field gate hinges should have capping hinges so they can't be removed easily. Cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when they're not in use. Use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards, etc.
Consider installing CCTV
If livestock is stolen it's important for you to be able to give the police an accurate description. Eartags and horn brands help police to identify stock. Freeze branding, hot branding or tattooing your postcode will also help. Always take photographs of especially valuable animals.
Farmhouses
Farmhouses can be targeted by burglars because they are often large and in isolated areas. Fit British Standard deadlocks to all outside doors and always use them. These can also be reinforced with bolts. The main door should have a security chain and wide-angle door viewer, so you can see who is on the other side. Consider installing a burglar alarm. Fit window locks on all ground floor windows.
Keep shotguns and firearms in a securely locked place. Always store ammunition separately. If you have to keep cash or jewellery in the house, put it in a quality safe. Keep a record of all valuable possessions. Whenever possible, use a security marking device to mark them with your postcode followed by the first two letters of your farm's name. Take photos of valuable items next to a ruler (to indicate scale).
Never show opportunist burglars you're not there by leaving notes for traders, etc. When you're away ask a neighbour to keep an eye on the property.
Outbuildings
Store any valuable equipment and tools in a secure building with a well built, locked door. Use British Standard locks, good quality locking bars and high security padlocks. Windows can be protected with metal bars. Always lock outbuildings when they're not in use.
A worthwhile investment is fitting outside security lights controlled by an automatic time-switch or infra-red beams. Again, consider installing CCTV.
Insurance
Make sure your insurance cover is adequate. Check with your insurance company that you are fully covered for vehicles, equipment and livestock, etc, as well as for the contents of buildings.
For further information and advice you can talk to your local Crime Prevention Officer by calling 101.
If a crime is currently in progress always call 999.