Following two thefts in a week, Dorset police are asking all farmers, contractors and operators of machinery fitted with satellite guidance systems to take action.

In the past week two further thefts saw unknown offenders remove field guidance systems from tractors in Dorset.

The first system is a Trimble CFX 750 system with the serial number 5147586134 which was removed from a Tractor which was parked up for the night at a farm in North Dorset. Occurrence number 55190098241 refers.

The second system was a John Deere Starfire 3000 Receiver with the serial number PCGT3TB782106 which was also stolen from a farm in North Dorset while it was parked up for the night at the farm premises. Occurrence number 55190099799 refers.

If anyone comes across either of these systems or knows of the whereabouts of these please contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting the occurrence numbers above.

For owners of John Deere Starfire 6000 systems there is a new software version available which enables the use of pin code protection to help secure these units. All newly supplied by dealer Starfire 6000 units will come with the software update. The update renders the system useless without the pin protection. So please if you have the SF6000 system do enable the pin protection on it.

Contact your local John Deere dealer if you have any doubts and they will be able to help and advise you about the best way to update this software. They will also be able to supply a lockable bracket and pin protected sticker to reduce the chances of this being stolen.

For all other systems please follow these steps to help secure your units.

• Remove all GPS guidance receivers, aerials or antenna globe when not in use and keep them locked away in secure locked place when possible.

• Considered fitting security tethers or brackets to stop units being removed.

• Consider marking these with UV pen or engraving your postcode or forensic marking such as Datatag are all options to consider. Machines fitted and registered with certain security markings are 4 times less likely to be stolen and our 6 times more likely to be recovered if they are stolen.

• Dorset police can supply free of charge UV marking kits to members of Farm watch which can be used to mark these pieces of equipment. If you are a member of Farm watch please send us an email to ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk with your name , address including postcode and the quantity you require and we will post these out to you.

• Store machinery inside locked barns if possible.

• Where locking machines away isn’t an option consider fitting mains or battery operated alarms to outbuildings or around the perimeter of areas where machines are stored.

• If you are considering fitting CCTV then please consider fitting this as well as alarms as part of a system. CCTV cannot be relied on fully as this won’t alert you at the time that you have intruders.

• Do you receive alerts from Dorset Police via email for farm, horse or rural watch? If you don’t and would like to sign up please visit www.dorsetalert.co.uk you will have access to email from Dorset Police Rural Crime Team with suspicious vehicle alerts and also information emails. You will also have the opportunity to benefit from free signs, UV marking kits and also other crime prevention reducing products.

• CCTV and intruder alarms will deter most thieves but make sure they are checked regularly to ensure they will work when you need them and they are placed in a position that won’t be triggered by animals or foliage moving in the wind.

• Record machinery serial numbers and photographs for reference. This will help police should they be stolen with press releases and social media appeals furthering the chances of the items being recovered.

• Let employees know the security arrangements that are expected of them while working on the farm.

• Encourage farm staff to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour or vehicles to the police. We don't know unless you tell us!

Please contact Dorset Police by:

• Calling 101

• Visit our website at dorset.police.uk

• Sending an email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk

If you wish to remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers Rural Crime Reporting Line by calling 0800 783 0137 or visiting http://www.ruralcrimereportingline.uk.

More crime prevention advice can be found at dorset.police.uk/ruralcrime

If you would like a visit to your farm, smallholding or other rural business from the Rural Crime Team or for further crime prevention advice please send an email to the team at ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk