Farms form an integral part of the economy, both locally and globally. It is therefore very important that they remain a safe and productive space, where there is continuous and uninterrupted productivity.
The theft of farm equipment is a problem that hinders the daily operations of a farm. This is an issue as most of these tools are expensive and hard to source.
If you want to find out how to prevent farm equipment theft and how Cartrack can help resolve this issue with its GPS tracking solution, then carry on reading.
In this article, you will:
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Learn about the threat of farm equipment theft
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Find out how GPS tracking helps prevent farm equipment theft
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Discover why Cartrack is the best choice for GPS tracking of farm equipment
How to Deal with The Threat of Farm Equipment Theft
A farm’s remote locations and the high value of agricultural machinery make them prone to theft, the likelihood of agricultural machinery theft is an industry issue with huge annual losses. Farms are easy targets for many criminals, mostly due to high-value equipment and how large and remote the properties normally are. Quad bikes, tractors, and 4x4s are among the most commonly stolen items, often targeted in planned thefts.
Addressing the challenges that come with stolen equipment leads to businesses incurring unexpected expenses and dealing with insurance providers.
Here are some tips to help protect farm equipment from theft:
- Get a GPS asset-tracking management
Manually keeping tabs on all farm equipment can get daunting, especially when the amount of farm equipment is high. Getting a GPS tracking system is an easy and straight-forward solution to this problem. These units will track where equipment is and how often it is being used, alerting you when it is taken out of established boundaries.
- Lock equipment up in secure storage spaces
Whether inside or in outbuildings, lock up equipment with locking bars or high-security padlocks. All the large machinery and fuel tanks should be locked up inside. Install power tools in lockable containers that are also attached to the ground or wall. Have a serial number record or log all equipment so that you can know details of equipment in case of farm thefts.
- Install an alarm system and security cameras
A CCTV or video surveillance system is one of the best options to keep your property safe from equipment theft. This footage will be useful in identifying intruders and other types of criminals when law enforcement is called. Cameras that are installed at strategic places aid you in watching those areas where the most vulnerabilities are located. With home security applications, you will be able to view your property even from a remote location.
- Collaborate with the community
Form a rural watch group with nearby friends and neighbours to guard each other’s properties. Note down descriptions of strangers and vehicles with license numbers, location, date, and time. This may help police track crimes in the locality.
- Mark equipment with unique identifiers for easy identification
Leave a security marking on the equipment, and register them, if possible. Put your farm address on the top of your trailers so that they can be easily seen from above. Apply bright colour paint or a warning decal or symbol to the equipment to help them be easily spottable.
How GPS Tracking Helps Prevent Farm Equipment Theft
Criminals show little concern for the disruption and financial burden imposed on farmers by their crimes. This is unfortunate, especially when more traditional security measures no longer have the efficacy they used to. Criminals keep coming up with new tactics to bypass these systems, exploiting the limitations they have.
The one solution that remains, is one most are unaware of- GPS tracking. Let’s explore how it can help prevent farm equipment theft:
Real-time location tracking
With GPS tracking you get to know exactly where your machinery is at all times. This is done in real-time with great accuracy, meaning that all your machinery will always be accounted for whenever you need to check on their whereabouts. Farm equipment theft is often opportunistic, and once machinery is taken, recovering it can be nearly impossible without a proper GPS tracker.
Whether a tractor is left in a distant field or a harvester is stored overnight, a GPS tracker can provide precise location updates. This means less time spent worrying and more time focused on productivity.
Geofencing alerts
Keeping track of farm machinery spread over large areas can be challenging, but geofencing makes it easier. A good GPS tracking system will come with Geofence technology which notifies you when equipment moves outside designated areas.
This feature allows the farmer to create virtual boundaries around specific locations, such as fields, storage areas, or designated work zones. If a piece of equipment moves beyond these set boundaries, you receive an instant alert.
This proactive approach helps prevent theft before it happens. Whether an unauthorised person tries to remove a vehicle, or a machine is mistakenly taken beyond its assigned location, geofencing provides an additional layer of control, helping you intervene before a potential loss occurs.
Tamper alerts
GPS tracking technology will not only tell you where your equipment is; it also tells you when someone is messing with it. If a GPS tracker is removed, blocked, or tampered with, you will receive an alert immediately, giving you time to respond before anything goes missing.
This feature helps ensure theft does not occur and prevents a farmer’s equipment from being used unauthorised. Whether they’re opportunistic criminals or employees using the machinery off the books, tamper alerts will help keep your farm assets safe. This means less worry for maintenance costs should an attempt be made on your assets.
Theft recovery assistance
Regardless of the precautionary measures, thefts do happen. But with GPS tracking, the chances of recovery become significantly higher. Live location data means tracking your heavy equipment has never been easier, making it easier for the authorities to recover stolen assets.
Many have found this technology effective in assisting farmers in recovering tractors, trailers, and other valuable equipment mitigating great loss. Apart from reducing financial losses, farmers get a sense of assurance on the safety of their assets. Investing in GPS trackers is not just a preventive tactic but also an option for quick response in case theft does occur.
Why You Should Choose Cartrack’s GPS Tracking to Stop Farm Equipment Theft
Cartrack has a state-of-the-art GPS tracking system, that is adaptable to vehicles and equipment of all types. Our offering can work for a variety of equipment types, from tractors to generators and even mills. This means that you can have the entire farm equipment inventory covered and tracked by our GPS solutions.
The GPS tracking solutions tailored for farm security include:
24/7 real-time monitoring
Farming runs round-the-clock, and so does your heavy equipment. With Cartrack’s GPS tracking, you will receive location updates every hour of the day, giving you the pinpoint location of your assets. You will know where your machinery is, whether on active use or parked for the night.
By eliminating the guesswork from farm management, this solution lets farmers work knowing that every piece of equipment-a tractor, trailer, or irrigation pump-is being tracked live. If anything goes moves, you’ll be notified so you can take action immediately.
Movement alerts and geofencing
Your farm equipment should stay where you left it. With Cartrack’s geofencing technology, you can create zones for your machinery, ensuring that if anything moves outside those boundaries, you are instantly alerted.
Whether that is a combine harvester leaving the field after hours or a generator being illegally removed, you’ll always be in the know. These alerts allow you to intervene in good time, preventing theft and protecting your assets from unauthorised use. With live tracking, geofencing gives you the extra security you need to ensure that your valuable equipment compliantly stands where it should be. Combined with live tracking, geofencing ensures that your valuable equipment stays exactly where it’s supposed to be.
Remote immobilisation
Imagine being able to stop criminals in their tracks! Cartrack’s remote immobilisation does just that: you can shut down a piece of equipment if it is ever stolen, stopping it in its tracks. With this revolutionary technology, you have the upper hand in keeping stolen machinery within recovery range. In the case of theft, you can disable the vehicle’s engine at the touch of a button. Doing so considerably boosts the chances of recovery while also acting as a strong deterrent against future thefts.
Detailed reports
Beyond security, Cartrack’s trackers also provide valuable insights into your farm’s operations. With detailed reports on usage, location history, and movement patterns, you can optimise equipment efficiency while ensuring that everything is being used as it should be.
These reports help you track productivity, identify unusual activity, and even assist with maintenance scheduling. If a machine is being used outside of designated hours or taken off-site without permission, the data will be right at your fingertips. Whether for theft prevention or operational management, Cartrack’s reporting tools give you full control over your farm assets.
As farms move to modernising their processes, security should also be considered in the same light. This is why GPS tracking for farm equipment is the future and is the best solution for the theft of powered and non-powered assets.
Cartrack’s innovative solutions are best suited to farmers looking to get easy, simple and effective security measures for their equipment. If you would like to learn more about our offering, then make sure to CONTACT US TO GET A QUOTE.
FAQs
What makes theft of farm equipment a big problem?
Farm equipment is low-priced in most cases, usually left in a secure area unattended, and very easy to resell, so it becomes a good target for criminals.
Who will I need to notify first between the police and Cartrack when farm equipment gets stolen?
You should contact Cartrack first so we send out our recovery team, you can then immediately contact the police. The two parties will work together to locate and recover your stolen asset.
Can GPS tracking work across borders?
Yes, Cartrack’s GPS tracking technology can locate assets beyond the borders of Namibia if choose the cross-border tracking option.
