Epping Forest: Property marking scheme sees reduction in agricultural plant and machinery thefts

A police property marking initiative in the Ongar area has seen a large reduction in thefts of agricultural plant and machinery.

Following a series of such thefts early last year, PC Warren Shepherd, of Loughton Community Policing Team, secured funding from Epping Forest Community Safety Partnership to buy 37 DNA forensic property marking kits and signage.

Microdots in the marking solution contain a code unique to that kit and PC Shepherd, the Ongar beat officer, also bought special scopes which allow officers quickly to identify recovered items which have been marked with it.

PC Shepherd identified farms and rural businesses which would benefit from the SelectaDNA kits and visited them to assist them in marking up agricultural vehicles and equipment, ranging from combine harvesters, tractors and GPS equipment to chainsaws and smaller tools.

Between September 2021 and September 2023, 18 thefts of rural equipment were reported to police in the area, which covers the Ongar, Fyfield, Moreton, Willingale, Abbess, Berners & Beauchamp Roding and the Lavers.

Between September 2023 and September 2024, following the roll-out of the SelectaDNA kits, we received just three reports – a reduction of 83.3%. During the same period, the total number of crimes reported in the area dropped by 16.5%

PC Shepherd says:

“While the number of crimes reported seems small, the cost of those thefts in replacing equipment and repairing damage can run into tens of thousands of pounds, which is a heavy burden for a farmer or a rural business to bear.
“When we recover agricultural machinery, vehicles and tools, we will check to see if items have been marked. If so, this immediately confirms the property has been stolen and makes it easier for us to secure theft charges and successful prosecutions.
“It also makes it easier for us to return stolen goods to their rightful owners.”

Last month, our Rural Engagement Team, secured funding to buy 200 of the kits. Officers will be visiting selected farmers and landowners across our county to mark up their property and keep it safe.

The cash to pay for these kits came from the Proceeds of Crime scheme run by Essex Community Foundation, which manages money our officers seize in cash and assets from those involved in crimes such as drug dealing and fraud. 

And earlier this year, Uttlesford Community Policing Team secured funding from Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership to offer DNA property marking kits to all 204 working farms in the district identified  during the Reach Our Rural Communities campaign in 2021.

There is no cost to the farmer or business receiving a kit through any of these three schemes.

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