New security marking initiative launched to protect Tyrone farms

The multi-faceted NFU Mutual scheme is designed to help farmers deter thieves by protecting their property with layers of security protection.

The next stage of the scheme is the £25,000 roll-out of local CESAR marking events for farmers’ quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

The CESAR system, operated by Datatag, puts hidden markers in vehicles, together with a visible plate which enables police to check the identity of machinery they believe may have been stolen.

Quads and ATVs are now a prime target for organised criminal gangs due to their small size and relatively large returns.

CESAR acts as a significant deterrent against theft due to its covert and overt layers of security marking technology and as an invaluable aid to police recovery.

CESAR-marked quads and ATVs are far more likely to be recovered as unmarked equipment and NFU Mutual offers insurance discounts on CESAR marked vehicles covered under an Agricultural Vehicle policy.

Martin Malone, NFU Mutual regional manager for Northern Ireland, said, “Rural crime is a blight on the lives of farmers and their families. As Northern Ireland’s main rural insurer we are determined to do everything we can to keep criminals out of our countryside.

“Marking systems like CESAR are hated by thieves as they provide a simple way for police to identify stolen property and bring about successful prosecutions. We’re urging our members to get in touch with their local agent to get booked on to one of our CESAR marking days which will be held across Northern Ireland.

“While there was a welcome fall in the cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland in 2020, we believe this may be in part due to thieves being unable to move around freely during lockdown restrictions. Now that those restrictions have been lifted, we are concerned that there could be a resurgence of rural theft across Northern Ireland’s fields and farmyards.”