Tracker leads Scottish police to haul of stolen farm equipment

Fortunately, it was fitted with Tracker’s award-winning technology which led police straight to the stolen vehicle, recovering it in less than 48 hours in West Lothian.

With quad bike thefts spiking by as much as 80% in some areas Tracker, the UK’s leading stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) provider, urges farmers and rural businesses to take stock of their security and protect their assets.

Mr McKeand of Broomhill Farm explained: “The ATV is a vital piece of equipment that we use every day to attend our livestock and get around the surrounding land.

“When I discovered it was stolen, it was a big blow, as it was a recent replacement for the one which had been stolen just after Christmas. Unfortunately that ATV didn’t have a Tracker device installed, so it was never recovered.

“Thankfully, my quad bike dealer recommended that I fit a Tracker unit to my new ATV, as there had been a spate of thefts in the area. I am so glad I did, because police found the vehicle within 48 hours, allowing my business to continue unscathed.

“The farm is in an area with a lot of theft. My pick-up was stolen by opportunistic thieves, 15 months ago, with me standing about 10 metres away, at the time. It felt like nothing could stop the thefts, but now I know that Tracker will stop them in their tracks, helping police catch them red-handed. I’d recommend Tracker to any farmer wanting to protect their machinery.”

Andy Barrs, Head of Police Liaison for Tracker commented: “This was a fantastic result, not only was Mr McKeand reunited with his stolen ATV, but police also found a stash of stolen equipment, including quad bikes and rotators, which would have otherwise been lost for good.

“Arrests were also made, illustrating just how effective Tracker is in helping police bring the criminals to justice.

“Farmers like Mr McKeand often believe there is little point in reporting offences to the police, thinking there is no hope in plant and machinery ever being recovered.

“And in areas where crime is high, theft can seem like an unstoppable force. However, this case proves the importance of SVR solutions, which reunite owners with their stolen assets, every day.

“We are also working in partnership with NFU Mutual, to offer farmers significant reductions on NFU Mutual policies of up to 12.5%. This makes Tracker the most robust and cost effective way to protect machinery in rural areas, while helping police clampdown on crime.”

Tracker’s SVR devices are used by ports police across the UK, including Police Scotland, resulting in the recovery of these assets.

Tracker’s SVR solutions work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the asset. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there.

Unlike other devices, Tracker’s unique technology can locate stolen quad bikes, tractors and farming equipment anywhere, even when it is hidden in a garage or shipping container.