Devon and Cornwall Police Offer Free Trailer Marking After Theft Rise

What if the trailer parked on your farm tonight could vanish by morning, and you had no way to prove it was yours?

That question has been hanging over the rural South West in recent months, with trailer thefts climbing across the region. Devon and Cornwall Police have now stepped in with a practical answer, marking forty trailers for free at a series of livestock market events over the past fortnight.

Where the events took place

Rural Affairs officers set up at livestock markets in Hallworthy, Holsworthy and Matford, inviting farmers to bring their trailers along for marking with no charge. The work was part of a rural crime intensification week, prompted by the recent rise in thefts across the South West of England. Auctioneers Kivells helped facilitate the events.

Each trailer was treated with SelectaDNA fluid, an invisible and permanent liquid carrying a unique code. If a marked trailer is stolen and later recovered, officers can trace it back to the owner. The kits also come with stickers and signage that warn thieves the trailer is marked, which is intended to put them off in the first place.

The officer behind the events

PC Clarke Orchard, who leads on Farm Machinery, Agri and Plant Machinery and Agricultural vehicle theft at Devon and Cornwall Police, set up the events.

Clarke said: “We understand the misery that criminals cause to hardworking farmers and landowners.

“Trailers can cost thousands of pounds to replace, and theft of trailers and even a temporary loss of equipment can impact productivity.

“Using property marking kits allows us to link recovered items back to their rightful owners and helps us bring offenders to justice.”

He added: “We’re passionate about tackling all aspects of rural crime and these trailer marking events are just one of many different tactics we’re employing to tackle rural crime in the peninsula.

“We will continue to work closely with partner organisations, doing everything we can to ensure people living and working in rural areas feel safe.”

Turnout at Holsworthy

Local Neighbourhood Team Leader PS Donna Gutteridge supported the event at Holsworthy. Donna said: “It was great to see so many people from our local farming community taking the opportunity to mark their equipment as part of these events.

“These kinds of products provide a tremendous deterrent against theft and assists us in returning equipment to the owner when stolen items are recovered.”

Officers also used the events to share crime prevention advice and to hear from farmers about concerns in their own areas.

Anyone wanting updates on future events and rural crime prevention can sign up to Devon and Cornwall Community Messaging or follow the Rural Affairs team on Facebook.