Rural Engagement Team seize 161 vehicles in 2023

Our Rural Engagement Team (RET) seized 161 vehicles this year.

The RET investigate the theft of vehicles and agricultural machinery, and help keep the rural roads safe by carrying out speed checks and patrolling.

The majority of seizures were for lack of insurance. A quarter of seizures were stolen vehicles the team recovered following tracker activations.

The peak months for activity were May and July, with 22 vehicles seized in each.

Sergeant Ben Felton said tracking down one stolen vehicle would often lead to the discovery of other stolen items such as quad bikes, ride-on lawnmowers, caravans or tractor and agricultural attachments.

“Once a vehicle is stolen, it will often be left in a secluded place for 24 to 48 hours to see if it has a tracker on it. The thieves will then check if it’s has been recovered. We know the places they are hidden and we will go looking in areas that other teams can’t access.

“After finding one item of stolen plant at a location, we’ll then check everything else and frequently we find more.

“The theft of vehicles from rural businesses is decreasing, however it remains a huge piece of work for us. We’ve done a lot of work with our community policing teams to target an organised criminal gang that are operating in rural areas.”

Earlier this month, RET officers looking for stolen agricultural machinery recovered a £40,000 Manitou telehandler from a Rochford industrial estate that had been stolen from Great Braxted in 2020, and tracked down in three stolen caravans in Great Warley worth approximately £70,000.

The team have also been working at Harwich Port with Border Force, the National Construction & Agriculture Theft Team and the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service, trying to catch prevent stolen vehicles and machinery leaving country.

When RET were launched in 2018, the force received 922 reports of stolen agricultural equipment and machinery. By 2022, that figure had dropped by 70% - to 274.

Sgt Felton said next year the team are looking to expand their crime prevention work, and that even by taking some simple measures, people can help to deter criminals.

“We are doing a lot behind the scenes to find people’s property and prevent it being stolen in the first place.

“We’re looking at using SelectaDNA to help people in rural locations mark their vehicles and we’re working with tactical crime advisers and NFU.

“Even if people already have CCTV and security lighting, I’d recommend fitting cameras on the access roads to any buildings as criminals may park up away from a property. We can then track automatic number plate recognition to track them down.”

Our Rural Engagement Team

Our rural engagement officers provide specialist help and advice to tackle wildlife crimes, such as hare coursing, as well as heritage crimes affecting historic sites and buildings, thefts of agricultural machinery, large-scale organised fly-tipping and unauthorised encampments.

And they also liaise with partner agencies to take enforcement action against those who breach legislation and to tackle specific rural issues through proactive operations.

Visit our rural crime webpages for specific crime prevention advice. You can also find out about our Farm and Rural Watch scheme.

Anyone who experiences or who has information about crime or anti-social behaviour, should ring 999 if it’s an emergency or a crime in progress.

Otherwise you can report it online where you can also provide information directly to an online Live Chat operator on weekdays (excluding bank holidays) between 10am and 9pm. Alternatively, you can ring 101.

You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, online or by calling 0800 555 111.

Did you know we have a few different ways you can contact us?

If you would like to report a non-emergency crime, antisocial behaviour, or give us information, you can report online or by use our Live Chat service.

To find out more about our different reporting services, 999 BSL and much more visit our Help Us Help You page.