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Plant, Trailers and Horse Box Thefts

Agreed on 4 September 2025. Updated on 21 December 2025

 Rural Crime Alert – Help us protect our farming community

Sadly, our farmers continue to be targeted by criminals, who are not deterred by time of day as thefts are happening both day and night.

We ask everyone to stay vigilant and report anything that looks suspicious. Your awareness could make a real difference.

To our farming community, please keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming events where you can have your trailers marked for free. These events are a great way to deter theft and improve traceability.

In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the DATATAG website for more information on security products and services that can help protect your equipment.

Let’s work together to keep our rural areas safe.

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  • 21 December 2025

    Rural Theft Alert

    We continue to receive reports of thefts affecting our rural communities.

    It’s important to stay aware that thieves aren’t only targeting larger items like tractors and trailers. Fuel, metal, tools, and general equipment remain highly desirable because they can be quickly sold on.

    These incidents are not only upsetting for those affected—they can seriously disrupt day‑to‑day work and have wider consequences for livelihoods and the local community.

    How you can help

    Please stay vigilant and report anything unusual or suspicious:

    Your awareness plays a vital role in protecting property, supporting local businesses, and keeping our rural communities safe.

    How to Improve Security in Rural Areas

    Rural properties can be more isolated and therefore more attractive to opportunistic thieves. Here are practical steps you can take to reduce the risk of fuel, machinery, metal, and equipment theft:

    Secure Your Property

    • Lock gates and access points whenever possible. Use heavy‑duty chains and closed‑shackle padlocks.
    • Keep farmyards well‑lit. Motion‑activated or dusk‑to‑dawn lighting makes it harder for offenders to work unnoticed.
    • Trim hedges and overgrowth near entrances to improve visibility from the road.

    Protect Vehicles and Machinery

    • Remove keys from tractors, quad bikes, and plant equipment, even if you’re only leaving them briefly.
    • Fit immobilisers, wheel clamps or steering locks to tractors, ATVs, and trailers.
    • Use CESAR marking or similar identification systems to help police trace stolen machinery.

    Defend Fuel and Metal

    • Store fuel in a locked, alarmed tank or within a secure compound. Consider anti-siphon devices.
    • Keep metal and scrap stored out of sight or behind locked doors—thieves often target visible items for quick theft.

    Improve Surveillance

    • Install CCTV, wildlife cameras, or doorbell cameras. Ensure they cover entrances, storage areas, and machinery.
    • Clearly display CCTV and security signs to deter offenders.
    • Use GPS trackers on valuable machinery or trailers (they’ve proven highly effective in recoveries).

    Record and Mark Your Property

    • Mark tools and equipment with your postcode or a forensic marking product.
    • Maintain an inventory with serial numbers and photographs. This speeds up recovery and proof of ownership.

    Make Daily Routines Less Predictable

    • Vary your routes and times when checking livestock, outbuildings, or equipment.
    • Move high-value items regularly to reduce the chance of thieves learning patterns.

    Work Together

    • Join a rural watch group or local WhatsApp/email alert system.
    • Share suspicious activity with neighbours—early warnings often prevent further thefts.

    Report Anything Suspicious

    Your actions—large or small—can significantly strengthen the security of our rural areas and help reduce the impact of crime across the community.

  • 10 December 2025

    Rural Theft Warning

    Sadly, we are still receiving reports of thefts within our rural community.

    It’s important to remember that it’s not just trailers and tractors being targeted—items such as fuel, metal, and general equipment are also at risk, as they can be easily sold on.

    These crimes are not only distressing for victims but also have a serious impact on their ability to work, creating a ripple effect on livelihoods and the wider community.

    Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately:

    • Call 999 if a crime is in progress.
    • Report online via https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/rural-or-wildlife-crime.

    Your vigilance helps protect property, wildlife, and the safety of our rural communities.

  • 27 November 2025

    Rural Crime – Stay Alert and Protect Our Communities

    We are continuing to receive reports of thefts within our rural communities. These incidents are not limited to trailers and tractors—items such as fuel, metal, and general equipment are also being targeted, as they can be easily sold on.

    These crimes are deeply upsetting for victims and have a serious impact on their ability to work, creating a ripple effect on livelihoods and the wider community.

    Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
    If you see something, say something. Your vigilance helps protect property, wildlife, and the safety of our rural communities.

    Crime Prevention Tips

    • Secure equipment and vehicles: Use wheel locks, hitch locks, and immobilisers where possible.
    • Install CCTV and motion sensor lighting: Well-lit areas and visible cameras act as strong deterrents.
    • Mark property: Use security marking or engraving on tools and machinery to make them traceable.
    • Store fuel and metal securely: Keep these items in locked containers or buildings.
    • Check boundaries: Ensure gates, fences, and access points are secure.
    • Join local watch schemes: Community collaboration strengthens security and reporting.
  • 13 November 2025

    Sadly, we are still receiving reports of thefts within our rural community.

    It’s important to note that this doesn’t just involve trailers and tractors—items such as fuel, metal, and general equipment are also being targeted, as they can easily be sold on.

    These crimes are not only upsetting for the victims but also have a significant impact on their ability to work, which creates a ripple effect of consequences for livelihoods and the wider community.

    Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.

    If you see something, please report it. Your vigilance helps protect wildlife, property, and the safety of our rural communities.

     

  • 27 October 2025

    Sadly, there has been an increase in hare and deer coursing in the rural areas around Frome.

    For those unfamiliar with this cruel activity: individuals take dogs — often lurchers — onto private land and allow them to chase wild animals for recreational or financial gain. Disturbingly, these chases are sometimes filmed and sold for gambling purposes.

    This is not only extremely inhumane, but also deeply disrespectful to landowners. The organisers show no regard for the animals they kill or the property they damage, often breaking fences and gates to gain access to fields. Reports to police have also highlighted that landowners who confront these individuals are frequently met with threats of violence or damage to their property.

    We ask everyone to support our farming community by reporting any suspicious or concerning activity. This could include:

    • People you don’t recognise in fields
    • Individuals with lurcher-type dogs
    • Unfamiliar vehicles parked near farmland

    Vehicles of note include: , Jeep Cherokee, grey transit van ,red vehicle with large knobbly tyres, Subaru and  Suzuki models.

    If you see something, please report it. Your vigilance helps protect wildlife, property, and the safety of our rural communities.

  • 16 October 2025

    Sadly, there has been an increase in hare and deer coursing in the rural areas around Frome.

    For those unfamiliar with this cruel activity, individuals take dogs – often lurchers – onto private land and allow them to chase wild animals for recreational or financial gain. Disturbingly, these chases are sometimes filmed and sold for gambling purposes.

    This is not only extremely inhumane, but also deeply disrespectful to landowners. The organisers show no regard for the animals they kill or the property they damage, often breaking fences and gates to gain access to fields. Reports to police have also highlighted that landowners who confront these individuals are frequently met with threats of violence or damage to their property.

    We ask everyone to support our farming community by reporting any suspicious or concerning activity.

    This could include:

    • People you don’t recognise in fields
    • Individuals with lurcher-type dogs
    • Unfamiliar vehicles parked near farmland

    Vehicles of note include: Honda CR-V, Jeep Cherokee, and Suzuki models.

    If you see something, please report it. Your vigilance helps protect wildlife, property, and the safety of our rural communities.

  • 28 September 2025

    On 17 September, Frome Rural Neighbourhood Officers attended Frome Cheese Show alongside Rural Affairs Unit where officers discussed security and provided crime reduction advice with farmers and land owners, particularly around trailer security marking. Officers received positive feedback from those in attendance and attendees were signposted to keep an eye out for the next free trailer marking event via Avon and Somerset Police Rural Crime webpage.

  • 17 September 2025

     Rural Crime Alert – Help us protect our farming community

    Sadly, our farmers continue to be targeted by criminals, who are not deterred by time of day as thefts are happening both day and night.

    We ask everyone to stay vigilant and report anything that looks suspicious. Your awareness could make a real difference.

    To our farming community, please keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming events where you can have your trailers marked for free. These events are a great way to deter theft and improve traceability.

    In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the DATATAG website for more information on security products and services that can help protect your equipment.

    Let’s work together to keep our rural areas safe.

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