Our rural farm location makes us targets and this time the thief stole a menage light, one of eight.  The supporting pole was left behind, but the light and its cabling were stolen.

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A few days ago the retired Officer telephoned us to give us an update on the enquiry.  Investigations are ongoing but we understand that an arrest has been made.

The item stolen was a watch – a 21st birthday present from the owner’s grandmother.  The owner speaks fluent Spanish and had got into what he and his friends believed was a genuine taxi.  It was white and was parked on a taxi rank.  Sadly it wasn’t a taxi, but a conman waiting to prey on a victim.  In this case, our founder’s son.

If you’ve ever had an item stolen you will know how long it takes to inform the police (at home or overseas), be interviewed, inform your insurance company and all the other necessary formalities.  Meanwhile the thief is long gone, along with your possessions.

The great advantage of It’s Been Nicked is speed.  Within minutes of the theft you can add your stolen item to this site.  A photo is always a great help if you have one.

Then, within minutes, your stolen item is identifiable and the message is spread, making it harder for the thief to sell on or remove from the country and making it more likely that your item will be found and returned to you.

I remember years ago, a neighbour’s son finding his stolen tape-recorder on display in the local second-hand shop.  Fortunately he had marked the tape recorder, so he could prove that it belonged to him.

Many stolen items end up being sold online.  It’s an easy, anonymous way for thieves to sell their stolen goods.  If you purchase items through an online auction site you have no way of knowing where the seller really lives, or who they really are, as the chances are the goods will be posted to you.

So – if you want to try and get your goods back – search online auction sites.  Also search specialist secondhand sales sites – there are many internet sales sites specialising in selling second-hand horse tack, second-hand bicycles, etc.

Many thieves will keep your stuff hidden away for a few months before trying to sell it.  Keep looking.  Above all, make sure your stuff is marked in a unique way so you can prove that it is yours.

Stolen horse boxes are often hidden for many months before being resprayed and resold, or shipped overseas.

How can you prevent your horse box from being stolen, or help it to be found if it is stolen?

Marking the box prominently with your postcode acts as a visible deterrent.  If a prominently marked box is found with the marking in tact then it is easy for the Police to identify who it belongs to.  Consider marking your postcode prominently on the roof of the box as well as somewhere on the side.

High value boxes should be fitted with tracking devices.

At the time of writing this, I have read reports of stolen tractors being sent to Eastern Europe, Ireland, Iran – in other words, anywhere out of the country.

These tractors can be worth up to £100,000 and represent a devastating and crippling loss to the hard working farmers who own them.

How can you prevent this?

• Never leave the keys in an unattended tractor, even for a few minutes.  If you need to “pop behind the hedge” – take the keys with you!
• Fit your pride and joy with an approved immobiliser and tracking device.
• Mark your tractor (all other equipment) prominently with  your postcode.  This acts as a visible deterrent and also means it can be quickly traced to you if it is found with the markings in tact.