COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rural crime is a reality many farm owners face. Unfortunately, current social and political conditions have added new dimensions to that reality. Increased population in rural areas can also increase trespassing and vandalism problems. Animal activists, opponents of farm practices, or unhappy employees may interfere with farming activities or damage property and animals. And there’s more problems. Illegal drug activity might lead to unauthorized use of property and theft of chemicals and equipment.

 Agricultural businesses get hit more often than expected. In April of this year, a pair of Starfire 6000 receivers were stolen off a pair of John Deere tractors at the Central Ohio Farmer’s Co-Op in Crawford County in Ohio. The items were stolen from two parked tractors overnight.

In February, a Sunflower Grain Drill valued at $45, 000 was stolen from the property of the Gallia Soil and Water Conservation District. A description of the suspect’s vehicle was obtained thanks to the use of security camera footage. The suspect was soon arrested for the theft.

Just last month five people were caught on surveillance cameras stealing multiple guns and ammunition from the Rural King in Lorain County in Ohio. The thieves used two separate vehicles during their heist.

The farm itself is also a major target of theft. In March, tree thieves made away with 12 large black walnut trees from a farm in Maysville, Kentucky. Maysville police said walnut trees are targeted because the price of walnut is high. The loss is estimated at $30,000. 

Kenny Perry, former University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agent in Graves and Mason counties, attributed thefts of farm equipment and tools to the high price of scrap metal and copper, along with a down economy.

 “Thieves oftentimes look for any kind of small mechanical device, such as an air compressor, generator or welder, that they can take and quickly sell to whomever,” Perry said. “During harvest a lot of equipment is left in fields away from a farmer’s home, and that makes it an easy target for folks to come in and get what they can off of it.”

Gasoline, diesel fuel, feeds, produce, tools, fertilizer, livestock and field equipment are common targets, Perry said.

Peggy Kirk Hall, an associate professor and field specialist in agricultural and resource law at Ohio State University, says that along with theft, intentional harm to farm property is a growing trend.

 “Whether from trespassers, thieves, vandals, disgruntled employees, drug makers, activists, or extremists, farm security threats are a risk that farmers face these days,” Hall said. “Intruders can harm property in many ways, such as releasing or injuring livestock, stealing anhydrous or chemicals, destroying crops, contaminating water, introducing disease, setting fires or committing other acts of theft, vandalism or destruction.”

 American Home Insurance offers seven tips to help prevent farm theft:

•  Lighting. Farms tend to cover quite a lot of space and be pretty dark at night, which can be very appealing to thieves. Adding permanent lighting, timed lights, and motion lights makes the farm property less vulnerable.

• Hide what you can. There’s no reason to advertise big ticket and desirable items, so lock them up or at least hide them from public view when possible.

• Lock it up. Get in the habit of locking everything and keeping track of who has keys. Consider adding lockable fuel caps if siphoning is a concern in your area.

• Screen employees. Crops, livestock and your livelihood depend on your staff.

• Keep an inventory. There is a laundry list of equipment needed on the farm, some of it you use regularly and some spends more time in storage than in use. If a thief takes something you don’t often use, you may not notice for a long time, making it more difficult for police to recover. An inventory that is regularly checked will help you stay on top of your equipment.

• Mark your property. The FBI has established an owner applied number (OAN) program where, once registered, you’re issued a number that you can stamp onto all of your equipment to easily identify it and deter thieves.