Almost 70 incidents of cable theft, mainly in rural locations, have been reported in Ireland since November 2021. Farmers using GPS tractor guidance systems are also vulnerable to theft, and they are strongly encouraged to remove GPS kit from tractors when not in use and to store it securely.
GPS theft is an international crime, yet wily criminals keep at it – stealing the GPS units, as well as quad bikes, machinery, and other property from farmyards. In Ireland, this often happens in the peak seasons of spring and autumn. As a result, farmers are advised to safeguard equipment in secure buildings close to the farmhouse. They should also restrict access to their farmyard, and keep their gates locked.
Farmers are further advised to photograph machinery and note its make, serial number and colour for insurance claim and tracking purposes.
Those involved in buying or selling metal products were advised to be aware of the potential for trading stolen property, inadvertently committing an offense by facilitating criminal activity. Furthermore, the farming community is also asked to look out for suspicious activity around overhead power lines on their land and to contact the authorities if they have information on metal theft and those involved in it.
Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has repeatedly called for a law or regulation forbidding scrap dealers paying cash for metals without sellers’ official proof of identity and physical address. ICMSA noted the State’s ineptitude to track who was buying and selling stolen metals compared to its highly efficient monitoring of how much fertiliser a farmer can buy.