Rural Crime News 12 18 September
Live on a farm? how to protect your livelihood Lincolnshire Police is committed to preventing and detecting crime in rural areas and officers in rural parts know only too well that farms are frequently targeted by criminals who are looking to steal high value items and get away with it. We visit and work with farmers whenever we can to help minimise the chances of them being targeted, as we understand that any such theft can significantly harm their business and livelihoods or cause disruption which can be incredibly frustrating. In this weeks Rural Crime News, we take a look at some of the ways farmers can reduce their chances of becoming victims of theft.
Livestock Grazing animals are an easy target for a thief. Check the fields where animals are grazing daily if possible. Keep hedges, fences and gates in good repair. Ditches form a natural barrier. Field gate hinges should have capping hinges so it is not easy to remove them. Cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when not in use. Use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards etc. Consider using closed circuit TV so you can watch animals in barns or yards from home. This can be especially useful during busy times like the lambing season. If livestock is stolen, it is important that you can give us an accurate description. Eartags and horn brands help police to identify stock. Freeze branding, hot branding or tattooing your postcode will also help. Take photographs of particularly valuable animals.
Machinery and tools Try to secure or immobilise vehicles or equipment when not in use. If possible, remove machinery from fields, especially near roads. Keep a record of the serial number, chassis and model numbers of machines. Paint your name on valuable tarpaulins in letters at least one foot high. Use metal engravers to mark tools, vehicles and equipment with your postcode followed by the first two letters of your farm s name. Keep tools and small pieces of machinery locked away. Do not leave them lying around.
Farm buildings Store valuable equipment and tools in a secure building behind a strong locked door. Use British Standard locks, good quality locking bars and high security padlocks. You can protect windows with metal bars. Lock outbuildings when you are not using them. Fit outside security lights controlled by an automatic timeswitch or infra-red beams that react to heat or movement. Consider fitting an intruder alarm or CCTV to alert you to anything suspicious.
Farmhouses Farmhouses attract burglars because they are often large and in isolated places. Fit British Standard deadlocks to all outside doors. Reinforce with strong key-operated bolts. Fit window locks on ground floor windows and those near flat roofs and drain pipes. Install a security chain and wide-angle door viewer on your main door, so that you can see who is on the other side. Consider a burglar alarm, but not instead of other more appropriate security methods Keep shotguns and firearms securely locked and store ammunition separately. If you have to keep cash or jewellery in the house, a safe is a good idea. Keep a record of your valuable possessions. Where possible, use a security marking device to mark them with your postcode followed by your house number or the first two letters of your farm s name. Read more on property marking. Don t advertise that you are not at home by leaving notes for traders, or garage doors open. When your house is empty ask a neighbour or your local Farmwatch to keep an eye on your farm. And be prepared to do the same for them!
Farmwatch It s a good idea to keep up to date on the current crime trends in your area. A good way to do this is to join your local Farmwatch. Lincolnshire Farm and Country Business Watch is a scheme that shares information and knowledge to reduce opportunities for crime. The scheme launched in 2005 and has a membership of over 1,300, with new members signing up all the time. The scheme works in partnership with: Force Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) Lincolnshire Police Wildlife Crime Officer NFU East Midlands Region Country Land & Business Association (CLA) Lincolnshire Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Arson Task Force, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue. As a registered member, you will also be part of the LincsAlert system. This is a digital messaging system that allows our neighbourhood policing teams to send messages direct to you. Messages will inform you of criminal activities happening in your area. It will also offer general information and advice that can assist in reducing crime. To sign up please visit: http://www.lincolnshirebusinessalert.co.uk/
What else is Lincolnshire Police dealing with?
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Rural crime? Report it every time We rely on information from our rural community. Every call counts and adds to our intelligence picture. Please continue to report hare coursing or any other rural crime. We are genuinely grateful for every call. We appreciate that some people will wish to report anonymously, and that s fine too Do you find Rural Crime News useful or how could we make it better for you? We would be pleased to hear your feedback. Please email: simon.cotton@lincs.pnn.police.uk