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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/29/gangs-stealing-powerful-farm-machinery-cash-machine-thefts
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Gangs stealing powerful farm machinery to use in cash machine thefts | Gangs stealing powerful farm machinery to use in cash machine thefts |
| (1 day later) | |
| Devon police tell farmers to review security with rural forces across UK reporting thefts of machines such as telescopic handlers | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Tue 29 Aug 2017 15.41 BST | |
| Last modified on Tue 29 Aug 2017 17.44 BST | |
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| Criminal gangs are stealing powerful farm vehicles and using them to rip cash machines out of walls. | Criminal gangs are stealing powerful farm vehicles and using them to rip cash machines out of walls. |
| Rural forces across the country are reporting that machines such as telescopic handlers – which typically have a fork-lift attachment on the end of an extendable boom – are being taken from farmyards by thieves targeting ATMs. | Rural forces across the country are reporting that machines such as telescopic handlers – which typically have a fork-lift attachment on the end of an extendable boom – are being taken from farmyards by thieves targeting ATMs. |
| Officers in Devon have warned farmers to review security arrangements after thieves took a Merlo telehandler from a farm in South Hams to steal a cash machine from a filling station in Totnes. They managed to get away with the machine and partly demolished the petrol station in the process, causing thousands of pounds of damage. | Officers in Devon have warned farmers to review security arrangements after thieves took a Merlo telehandler from a farm in South Hams to steal a cash machine from a filling station in Totnes. They managed to get away with the machine and partly demolished the petrol station in the process, causing thousands of pounds of damage. |
| Devon farm machinery being stolen to rip cash machines out of the walls of petrol station https://t.co/91HQxWwSXR | Devon farm machinery being stolen to rip cash machines out of the walls of petrol station https://t.co/91HQxWwSXR |
| A few days later thieves attempted to steal a second Merlo from a farm near Kingsbridge. The three men involved were disturbed and fled empty-handed. | A few days later thieves attempted to steal a second Merlo from a farm near Kingsbridge. The three men involved were disturbed and fled empty-handed. |
| “Police across the South Hams wish to raise awareness regarding the possible theft and subsequent use of farming agricultural vehicles in the targeting of cash machines, particularly at petrol stations during the night,” police said. | “Police across the South Hams wish to raise awareness regarding the possible theft and subsequent use of farming agricultural vehicles in the targeting of cash machines, particularly at petrol stations during the night,” police said. |
| “Last week, we saw a Merlo used to steal a cash machine from a petrol station at Totnes Cross. This Merlo was stolen from a nearby farm. On 25 August three male offenders attempted to steal a Merlo from a farm close to Kingsbridge, no doubt to be used to commit similar crime. They were unsuccessful as were disturbed by residents. | “Last week, we saw a Merlo used to steal a cash machine from a petrol station at Totnes Cross. This Merlo was stolen from a nearby farm. On 25 August three male offenders attempted to steal a Merlo from a farm close to Kingsbridge, no doubt to be used to commit similar crime. They were unsuccessful as were disturbed by residents. |
| “Please help spread the word and make sure efforts are made to better secure farming/building site machinery in order that these vehicles aren’t used to commit further crime.” | “Please help spread the word and make sure efforts are made to better secure farming/building site machinery in order that these vehicles aren’t used to commit further crime.” |
| Thieves have also used machinery such as excavators stolen from building sites to carry out smash-and-grab raids on cash machines. However, the introduction of immobilisers and chips that makes it easier to track such vehicles has prompted gangs to look elsewhere. | Thieves have also used machinery such as excavators stolen from building sites to carry out smash-and-grab raids on cash machines. However, the introduction of immobilisers and chips that makes it easier to track such vehicles has prompted gangs to look elsewhere. |
| There has also been a spate of incidents in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. | There has also been a spate of incidents in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. |
| More generally, farmers have been hit by something of a crimewave this year, according to the insurer NFU Mutual. | More generally, farmers have been hit by something of a crimewave this year, according to the insurer NFU Mutual. |
| Emerging trends it spotted included thieves cloning the identities of large, expensive tractors to make them easier to sell and harder to detect; smaller and older tractors being stolen by organised gangs for export to developing countries; and of Land Rover Defenders being taken since production of the vehicles ended. | Emerging trends it spotted included thieves cloning the identities of large, expensive tractors to make them easier to sell and harder to detect; smaller and older tractors being stolen by organised gangs for export to developing countries; and of Land Rover Defenders being taken since production of the vehicles ended. |
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