Police issue security advice after spate of high value thefts from farms in Gwynedd

Members of the public are being urged to take extra steps to protect their possessions following a series of high value thefts in the Gwynedd area.

Farms and company yards have mainly been targeted by criminals over the last two months, with agricultural vehicles and tools being stolen.

PC Jamie Aston from North Wales Police’s Western Priority Crime Team said: “We have seen an increase in high value thefts from rural locations, such as farms, in the last two months.

“Following correspondence with the Farmers Union this week, we are listening to the communities’ concerns and have increased patrols in rural areas.

“I would urge anyone with a quadbike, trailer, Land Rover and other high value tools to take all reasonable steps to safeguard their possessions.

“Simply ensuring to check that high value items are locked away in secure locations overnight and keeping vehicle keys separate from the vehicle can be enough to prevent theft from taking place.”

Below are more steps that can be taken to prevent theft:

• Install CCTV
• Ensure vehicle keys are kept separate and locked away from the vehicle overnight
• Lock quadbikes or any other vehicles away in a secure location
• Keep a record of all vehicle/trailer serial numbers
• Install trackers on all vehicles such as quadbikes and Land Rovers
• Use padlocks and lock overnight, specifically on entrances into barns, sheds and any gate that would be an access point in and out of a yard or where property is kept
• Install movement alarms onto gates/doors
• Install motion sensor lights

If you have any information about the recent thefts in Gwynedd, you are urged to get in touch via the North Wales Police website or by calling 101. You can also report crime anonymously via Crimestoppers.

For more information about incidents in your area, you can sign up to the Farmwatch scheme via the North Wales Police Community Alert system.