Simple steps may help prevent farm equipment theft

Harvesting crops, hauling grain and moving hay, among other seasonal tasks, make fall a busy time for farmers. Completing all this work often requires staging vehicles, heavy equipment and tools at different fields scattered across large areas. Unfortunately, this can leave expensive machines susceptible to opportunistic thieves. Simer Virk, a precision agriculture specialist with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, said farm equipment theft is a recurring and expensive issue.

“It’s important to be proactive about protecting equipment rather than waiting until something happens,” Virk said. “New tractors can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and come equipped with thousands of dollars of specialized technology. Even if it’s insured, it amounts to a lot of money and time to recoup a stolen machine.”

Every month in the U.S., there are more than 1,200 reported thefts of special equipment, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This statistic includes tractors, among other pieces of machinery. Aaron Wells, an agronomic crops agent with Alabama Extension at Auburn University, said smaller equipment may be more susceptible to theft.

“Items like four-wheelers or all-terrain vehicles are easier to move from one place to another than big machines like tractors or combines,” Wells said. “Thieves also target small machines because they’re more in demand, so they can be easier to sell.”

To protect agricultural investments, Wells and Virk offered the following advice that may deter would-be thieves or help recover stolen equipment.

Deterring Thieves

Wells and Virk agreed that the best way to protect farm equipment is to make it difficult to steal.

“When it’s possible, keep equipment out of plain sight and behind a locked gate, especially smaller items,” Wells said. “Don’t tempt people who are just driving down the road by leaving equipment parked where it would be easy to grab and go. Also, don’t leave keys in vehicles or equipment.”

Along with locking vehicle doors, Virk said farmers should keep equipment trailers, GPS receivers and other items under lock and key.

“You need to protect technology, too, because it can be just as expensive or even more expensive than the equipment itself,” Virk said.

With spray drones as an emerging technology, agricultural drone dealers and services are becoming more popular. Owners often transport these drones by trucks with custom-built trailers that hold specialized equipment.

“If you are building or buying something like that, you need to have a locked space on that trailer,” Virk said. “You don’t want someone to be able to walk up, steal something off a trailer and just walk away.”

Proactive Steps to Help Recover Equipment

Sometimes, equipment does get stolen. In these instances, farmers should notify local law enforcement to open an investigation. However, there are additional, proactive steps farmers can take before a theft that could assist in recovery efforts.

“Maintaining good records and inventory of your equipment is important,” Virk said. “Make sure you have all the serial numbers and other specific details on file for your fleet. Don’t stop at reporting the theft to local authorities. Contact your equipment dealer or salesman and report the serial number of the stolen item.”

Newer machines often come with GPS technology that makes it easier to find stolen items.

“Precision agriculture technology equipped on newer machinery allows you to track all kinds of information about a piece of equipment, including location,” Wells said. “Say someone steals a tractor; as soon as they crank it, that equipment could be tracked to its specific location.”

For older equipment that does not have built-in GPS capabilities, Virk said there are affordable after-market options for tracking that farmers can easily add.

“Used equipment still carries a lot of value,” Virk said. “It’s worth it to ensure you can track all your farm fleet. I know of a case where a UTV was stolen from a dealership in Georgia. They were able to locate and recover the stolen vehicle promptly because of a GPS receiver.”

Closing Comments

While there are no guarantees, taking simple, proactive measures can help prevent farm equipment theft.

“Thieves look for what’s easy,” Virk said. “They often target items that they could quickly steal and be back on their way in as little time as possible. Do what you can to make it more difficult for them to steal.”

Additionally, it’s helpful to be a good neighbor and look out for one another.

“Farmers are a close-knit group,” Wells said. “They know the tractors of their neighboring farmers and the other equipment they have. Building that kind of community is a great way to discourage theft.”

PHOTO: Concept image of a dark shadow of a would-be thief around agricultural grain silos. (iStock │ #1947261562 – Nickbeer)