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LV The number of GPS device thefts has increased - protect your agricultural machinery!
Every year, more and more agricultural machinery uses Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, which make daily work easier, saving money and fuel, as well as speeding up the execution time of the work to be performed. Such devices cost several thousand euros and are easily dismantled, thus attracting the attention of thieves. The State Police, the association “Farmers' Council” and the association “Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Traders” call on farmers to be vigilant and think about the safe storage of their machinery.
This year, from January 1 to May 27, the State Police initiated 14 criminal proceedings for the theft of GPS and monitor devices from tractors. Of these, seven criminal proceedings were initiated in Zemgale, three in Kurzeme, two in Latgale, and one each in Vidzeme and the Riga region. Also, from January 1 to May 15 of this year, three criminal proceedings were initiated for the theft of agricultural machinery – one for the theft of a fertilizer spreader in Kurzeme, one for the theft of a tractor in Vidzeme, and one for the theft of a tractor in Latgale, which was later found.
Thefts are mostly committed in the dark, with free access to valuable GPS devices from farmers' unguarded farm areas. There are situations when farmers leave tractors and other agricultural machinery equipped with GPS devices unattended in the field or in places where they are not properly looked after or guarded, thus making it easier for the thief to get to what he wants. It should also be noted that GPS devices are easy to dismantle, so stealing them will not take much time for a thief. Unfortunately, the loss caused by theft is often measured in tens or even hundreds of thousands of euros.
"Law enforcement officers work actively on a daily basis and take various preventive measures to prevent the risks of theft of agricultural machinery. State Police inspectors identify regional farms and their owners and visit farmers themselves on a daily basis to remind them of the risks of theft and agree on mutual cooperation in protecting tractor equipment. The State Police also cooperates with colleagues from the Republic of Lithuania to jointly address the problem of tractor theft, because in previous years a large part of the stolen tractors were transported across the border and found in the territory of Lithuania," emphasizes Māris Priednieks, Head of the 2nd Department of the Criminal Investigation Department of the State Police.
Juris Lazdiņš, Chairman of the Board of the Association “Farmers' Parliament”: “In order to reduce the number of thefts of GPS devices and agricultural machinery, farmers themselves must also be responsible and not purchase used GPS devices and agricultural machinery from dubious sellers. For our part, we urge farmers to be vigilant and report suspicious offers of GPS devices and agricultural machinery to the police.”
Aigars Laurinovičs, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers and Traders: “We encourage farmers to take a photo of the serial number and location of GPS equipment on the specific equipment unit. As well as to label the equipment components, indicating the name of the farm, the owner’s contact phone number and the chassis number of the equipment.”
The State Police emphasizes that the responsibility of the owners themselves and their understanding of how to protect their agricultural machinery are also important, therefore, taking into account the cases of theft, the State Police calls on farmers to:
- Do not leave purchased agricultural machinery unattended in the field;
- equip agricultural machinery with modern signaling;
- After completing all agricultural work, remove GPS antennas and control units and store them in a closed, safe and well-guarded area;
- install video surveillance cameras, evaluating the angle they cover;
- purchase an alarm system with motion sensors that can be linked to a phone. Responding to the slightest movement in an area where unauthorized persons should not be present, the sensors send signals to warn the owners, neighbors and scare off trespassers;
- GPS antennas should be equipped with search devices to make it easier to find GPS devices in the event of theft;
- to impose a radio signal, which is an analogous system to GPS, but it is more difficult to suppress.
Just as important as taking care of the safety of agricultural machinery, it is also important to think about the storage of fertilizers and plant protection products. It is undesirable to leave them in freely accessible spaces, where the chemicals would be easy prey for uninvited "guests".
The State Police reminds you that if suspicious persons or foreign cars are noticed near agricultural machinery, a field or a farm, it is advisable to record the car's license plate and immediately report it to the police by calling 110. It is important not to remain indifferent and to look after not only your own but also your neighbor's machinery!
Additional information:
Elina Priedite
State Police
Senior Specialist, Public Relations Department
Phone: 67075093
Mobile phone 29600629
Martin Throne
Association "Farmers' Assembly"
Agricultural policy expert
Mobile phone 29805456