Funding boost to protect Derbyshire farm equipment

A high-tech property marking system is going to be rolled out across the whole of Derbyshire, providing a deterrent to thieves who aim to steal farmer’s vital equipment.

Following successful trials in North-East Derbyshire and Bolsover, where equipment was tagged using the CESAR security system and ‘Datatag’ products, the use of the technology will now be rolled out across the remaining six local authorities.

The system uses electronic transponders hidden in locations around the vehicle or property. These transponders possess a unique identification code that can be read by a hand-held scanner used by police. The items will also have a tamper resistant label warning potential thieves that the property has been permanently marked.

Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has agreed to give £15k to the project allowing the counties farmers the opportunity to have their vehicles, machinery and equipment securely marked to deter thieves.

PC Emerson Buckingham from our Rural Crime Team said: “We have already tagged over £2 million worth of items in the last couple of years in NE Derbyshire and Bolsover. None of these items have been stolen proving this is a great deterrent to thieves and gives owners of valuable plant machinery confidence that their property is safe.

“This additional funding will now allow us to use Datatag products across the rest of Derbyshire, keeping hundreds of other items safe and saving farmers not only millions of pounds in replacing the stolen equipment but also the stress and worry.

“If we find equipment with CESAR security system within the possession of an offender, we will be able to quickly determine that they have been stolen and bring the thieves to justice.

Dave Luscombe of Datatag, technology partner to the CESAR Scheme, said ‘The CESAR Scheme and Datatag have worked with the Derbyshire Police RTC for the last four years and to see how this property marking initiative has evolved is really satisfying.  The results that we achieved working with North East Derbyshire and Bolsover councils proved beyond doubt that forensic marking of property works, and I am really excited about working with PC Buckingham and his team to take the powerful CESAR deterrent county wide.”