Crime Prevention - Farm Security

This week on Crimecall Sergeant Deirdre O’Neill was in studio offering advice on Farm Security. While there has not been an increase in incidents over the last few years, there has been an increase in the amount of livestock / plant machinery, taken in each incident.

Theft incidents from Farmland including property and livestock:

2022 – 166 incidents

2021 - 146 incidents

2020 – 186 incidents

2019 – 131 incidents

2018 – 158 incidents

Of these theft incidents there was a substantial number of livestock taken:

Stolen Livestock 2022
Animal Type	Incidents	Stolen Animals
Cattle	32	286
Other Animals/livestock	27	148
Sheep	31	577
Grand Total	89	1011

Stolen Livestock 2023	Incidents	Stolen Animals
Total	*	18

* Figure is less than 10

Every premises can benefit from a security review at least once a year. This entails taking a look from the perimeter of the property inwards. Areas of weakness should be looked for e.g. poor fencing and damaged gates. A plan should then be made to improve and increase security.

For remote areas or farms which are uninhabited there are some clever tech items available. They operate on Passive Infrared Sensors which are triggered by motion and can record both video and audio, some of which have night vision. They are 3G mobile, SIM enabled and battery operated with the option of solar panels.

This means no wiring and no broadband. However, a 3G signal would be required.

These can be installed by a Private Security Authority approved installer and you can avail of monitored service or have the footage sent to your mobile phone. They are particularly useful at entrances to yards and remote farms and areas where high value items are stored. Good physical security with good lighting is always the best option, if access can be restricted to intruders its better than detection.

With regard to the property on the farms – securing the valuable items in a lock up is advised and using property marking devices. An Garda Síochána’s property app could be used to record those details. Tracking devices could be considered for the portable high valuable items. These are small electronic devices that are battery operated and can omit a signal for up to 3 years which allows them to be placed into the frame of an item or concealed so they cannot be removed.

Farm_Security

Alarming the sheds, yards and the home installed by a PSA approved installer is a good deterrent.