Gang jailed for series of power tool raids on farms

9 September 2015

Four men who targeted farm outbuildings in Wales, stealing thousands of pounds have been caught and put behind bars.

Speaking after sentencing, detective chief inspector Neil Harrison, of North Wales Police, told the Daily Post that the group was responsible for targeting rural communities on a daily basis.

DCI Harrison said, “they specifically targeted isolated farms and outbuildings and their activities disrupted the working lives of their victims”. 

According to a government survey (released in April), about one-quarter of farming businesses in England and Wales were affected by crime last year.

Suzanne Clear, who is the NFU’s senior adviser on planning and rural affairs, said:

“The NFU is working with the Home Office, but also with the National Rural Crime Network – an organisation of 29 police crime commissioners and key groups with an interest in reducing rural crime and antisocial behaviour – whose new website is released today.

“We are highlighting not just the theft and vandalism issues raised by these statistics, but also to ensure wider wildlife and livestock crime, fly-tipping and fly-grazing are understood and reported.”

This is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.