Each year, more and more agricultural techniques use Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to make everyday work easier, saving resources and fuel, and speeding up the time to perform the work. Such equipment costs several thousand euros and is easily dismantled, thereby attracting the attention of the garnishes. The State Police, the Association of Agricultural Engineering Producers and Traders call on farmers to be observant and think about the safe storage of their techniques.
This year, between Jan. 1 and May 27, the National Police has launched 14 criminal proceedings for theft of GPS and monitor equipment from tractors. Of these, seven criminal proceedings have been launched in Zemgale, three in Kurzeme, two in Latgale and one in Vidzeme and the Riga region. In the period from 1 January to 15 May this year, three criminal proceedings have been launched regarding the fact of the theft of agricultural techniques, one on the theft of a fertiliser trader in Kurzeme, one on the theft of a tractor in Vidzeme and one on the theft of a tractor in Latgale, which was later found.
Thefts are mostly committed during the dark hours of the day, freely accessing valuable GPS equipment from farmers' unguarded areas of the farm. There are situations where farmers leave tractors and other agricultural appliances fitted with GPS equipment unattended on the field or in places where they are not properly sighted or guarded, thereby making it easier for the thief to do the work to get to the desired. It should also be aware that GPS equipment is easily dismantled, so it will not take a long time to steal it. Unfortunately, the damage caused by thefts is often measured at ten or even hundreds of thousands of euros.
"Legislators work actively daily and take a variety of preventive measures to prevent risks of theft in agricultural techniques. State police inspectors shall identify the holdings of the regions and their owners and shall go to the farmers on a daily basis to remind them of the risks of theft and to agree on mutual cooperation in the protection of tractor engineering. The State Police is also cooperating with colleagues of the Republic of Lithuania to jointly address the problem of tractor theft, since in previous years a large part of the stolen tractors have been transferred across the border and found on the territory of Lithuania, "stresses Maris Priednieks, Head of Division 2 of the State Police Criminal Investigation Board.
Juris Lazdins, Chairman of the Board of the Farmers' Saeima: “In order to reduce the number of theft of GPS equipment and agricultural engineering, farmers themselves must be responsible and do not have to purchase used GPS equipment and agricultural techniques from dubious vendors. On our part, we call on farmers to be observant and on the suspicious offers of GPS equipment and agricultural techniques to report to the police. ”
Aigars Laurinovics, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Agricultural Engineering Producers and Traders: “We call on farmers to photograph the serial numbers and locations of GPS equipment on the technical unit concerned. As well as the labelling of components of equipment, indicating the name of the holding, the owner's contact phone and the number of the technical chassis. ”
The national police underline that the responsibility and understanding of the owners of their own farming techniques is also important, and therefore, in the light of cases of theft, the State Police calls on farmers to:
- do not leave the purchased agricultural technique unobserved on the field;
- equipping agricultural techniques with modern signalling;
- removing and storing all agricultural works, GPS antennas and control blocks in a closed, secure and well-guarded area;
- install video cameras, assessing the angle they cover;
- purchase an alarm with motion sensors that can be connected to the phone.
- In response to the smallest movement in an area where it would not be desirable to be located by unauthorised persons, sensors shall send signals to alert owners, neighbours and spook offenders;
- Equipping GPS antennas with search devices to make GPS equipment easier to find in case of theft;
- putting on a radio signal that is similar to GPS, but it is more difficult to suppress.
As important as ensuring the safety of agricultural techniques, it is also to think about the storage of fertilizers and plant protection products. It is not desirable to leave them in open-access spaces where chemicals would be easy for unsolicited “guests”.
The national police recall that if suspicious persons or foreign cars have been spotted in the vicinity of an agricultural technique, field or farm, it is desirable to enter the number of the car and immediately report it to the police by calling 110. It's important not to stay indifferent and look after, not just your own.
Prepared by:
Elina Priedite
Senior Officer of the State Police
Public Relations Department,
Tel. 67075093 Mob. Tel. 29600629 E-mail: elina.priedite@vp.gov.lv
Martins Trons
Agricultural Policy expert
Mob. Tel. 29805456
martins.trons@zemniekusaeima.lv