PREVENTION is one of the greatest tools to fight theft, Devon and Cornwall Police have said.

This comes as the force has issued advice about how to best prevent agricultural, plant and machinery theft.

‘We can reduce the risk of theft by thinking about how we look after equipment’ a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Keep a record of serial numbers and model details, take photos of equipment especially if it has any unusual marks or features, say police.

Register your equipment with the free national property register – Immobilise - and - The Equipment Register (TER).

Other advice includes: using metal engravers to mark tools, vehicles, and equipment; keeping tools and small machinery out of sight and locked away; fitting trackers and immobilisers to tractors, ATVs, and quads and joining local social media groups to self-circulate any suspicious sightings of vehicles and people in your area.

‘Farmers and members of the public should be vigilant in the countryside reporting any suspicious activity to the Police, noting vehicle details and descriptions’ the spokesman said.

‘Notify the police using 999 if you suspect an offence is being committed.

‘If you have any information regarding rural crime such as Farm Machinery, Agri Plant & Agri Vehicle theft report online at Home | Devon & Cornwall Police, call 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111’