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Police Scotland officers tackling rural crime across the country have taken part in new training as part of nation-wide crime crackdown.
From Inverness to Dumfries, officers working within rural and acquisitive crime have been trained on VIN Chip technology to prevent and tackle thefts of agricultural machinery and equipment from farms.
This year alone, 34 quad bikes, 13 trailers and 10 agricultural vehicles and plant worth a total of £536,500 have been stolen from farms and rural premises across the country. The most targeted areas being The Lothians and Scottish Borders.
Officers are encouraging farmers to take preventative steps to discourage criminals who prey on the rural communities.
Sergeant Laurent Semple of the Rural, Acquisitive and Business Preventions Team highlighted the serious financial impact farm machinery theft can have on rural communities. He explained that quad bikes, in particular, are a frequent target due to their high resale value and ease of transport. These thefts often take place under cover of darkness, when there are fewer witnesses, making it easier for criminals to get away unnoticed.
To help address the issue, Semple pointed to the benefits of the VIN Chip system, which assigns each vehicle a unique, scannable forensic ID. This enables police patrols to conduct rapid roadside checks and trace stolen equipment back to its registered owner.
“The VIN Chip system provides an individual forensic footprint to a piece of equipment or vehicle which can be scanned from distance using devices carried by Police patrols.”
Sergeant Laurent Semple.
He also urged farmers to sign up to the Farm Watch scheme, which alerts members to local criminal activity and offers practical security advice. The initiative aims not only to improve intelligence gathering during investigations but also to reduce the number of incidents by making farms a less appealing target for thieves.
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