Battle to reduce tractor theft led by new technology

THE farm-and-construction equipment industry is fighting back against tractor thieves, with technology which will soon be available in Ireland.

Equipment theft here in Ireland is thought be at least as bad as in Britain – where 10 to 12 construction, plant and agricultural machines are stolen, on average, each day, worth £1 to £1.5m per week.

The average recovery rate in Britain was only 5% – but that has increased dramatically to almost 30%, since the CESAR (Construction and Agricultural Equipment Security and Registration) scheme, operated by Datatag ID Limited, came on the scene.