Innovative kits dished out to farmers in bid to tackle rural crime

Innovative property marking kits have been issued to two East Kintyre farms targeted by quad bike thieves in a bid to prevent further robberies.

 

Campbeltown-based police sergeant Jon Watson and Chris Husthwaite from the Campbeltown branch of the NFU Mutual insurance company met with Duncan Semple of Dippen Farm and Andrew Glenn of Saddell Home Farm last week to hand over the SelectaDNA kits.

 

Supplied by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC), the kits use microdot technology, which is recognised by nearly all police forces across the UK, to identify and reunite owners with their belongings if they are stolen and recovered by the police.

 

Each microdot contains a unique ‘DNA’ code which is registered to the property owner.

 

The kits can be used to mark anything from a quad bike to a chain saw, and the process of marking and registering each item is as straightforward as possible.

 

'Over the last two years, there have been three occasions where thieves have targeted rural farms and stolen machinery overnight,' said Sergeant Watson.

 

'The majority of items stolen were quad bikes, causing immeasurable hardship and misery to the farmers who have to continue working without such vital pieces of equipment.

 

'Thankfully, in the majority of these cases, with the support of the local community, we have been able to locate and return these valuable quads but the emotional effects of such crimes can continue long after any criminal case has been concluded.

 

'Through SelectaDNA property marking kits, we’re introducing another deterrent to any thief.

 

'The signage displayed at premises protected by these kits is a proven deterrent and highlights to thieves that the rural community in Kintyre is alert and prepared.'

 

After receiving his kit, Mr Semple said: 'Having been the victim of rural crime on more than one occasion, I am more than willing to participate in any new measures Police Scotland recommends which will help protect farmers and their property.

 

'The kit will be a welcome addition in the fight against rural theft.'

 

Mr Glenn said: 'We were extremely pleased to receive these marking kits and hope they prove an effective deterrent, alongside our existing security measures.

 

'These thefts in Kintyre are not only a massive hit to our business and personal lives, but they help to spread fear and anger throughout the entire community.

 

'We hope with continued co-operation between the police, NFU, locals and all farmers, we can halt these increased levels of thefts over the last decade.'

 

"attachment_765250" "aligncenter" "300"] From left: NFU Mutual agent Chris Husthwaite, Andrew Glenn of Saddell Home Farm and Sergeant Jon Watson.

 

With theft and the disruption it causes a continuing cause of anxiety for farmers, NFU Mutual is pleased to support this scheme with Police Scotland to make it harder for criminals to operate in the countryside.

 

'Combined with good farmyard security and effective policing, property marking is one of the best weapons in our armoury to beat thieves,' said Mr Husthwaite.

 

'NFU Mutual has funded over 200 kits, which have the potential to mark up to 10,000 items, as part of its support for SPARC.

 

'Our recent rural crime report reveals that Scotland continues to be hard hit by rural thieves, and we’re advising rural people to review their security to help prevent crime and disruption.

 

'To learn more, you can visit our rural crime event at the Rhoin Farm on August 24.'

 

A small number of kits is still available and police would welcome contact from any farms or businesses that feel they would benefit from becoming part of this scheme.

 

'I’d like to thank SPARC for supplying this batch of SelectaDNA kits to Campbeltown and Lochgilphead Police Offices,' said Sergeant Watson.

 

'SPARC is a fantastic national support for all agencies involved in reducing crime in our rural areas and its advice is invaluable.'

 

Alongside the introduction of professional property marking, police are promoting Scotland's Rural Watch scheme.

 

Anyone can join this scheme in minutes by visiting www.ruralwatchscotland.co.uk and following the registration steps.

 

In the meantime, local police officers are committed to working in partnership with agencies such as the NFU and SPARC to push crime back out of Kintyre and make it an undesirable and uncomfortable destination for criminals.

 

Sergeant Watson added: 'We continue to need help from the community in achieving this and we want people to report anything suspicious immediately, through 101 or through 999 if they believe a crime is ongoing at the time.'