Also reports from Limburg
GPS theft shifts to the Northern Netherlands
Once again, a gang of thieves, who steal GPS systems from payroll and agricultural companies in a very targeted way, has struck. This will be reported on Facebook. In early September, a wave of GPS thefts came to light. Reports also come from the far south of the Netherlands.
John Deere dealer Groenoord makes notification of theft on their Facebook page. In the Groningen-Slochteren region, the thieves also made their mark. A large number of systems have been stolen, according to the company. The criminals know exactly what to look for. According to insiders, several contractors in the province of Groningen have been affected.
Old stuff remains
At the beginning of September, notification made of targeted GPS theft by mechanization company Vervaet. To start with, 3 sets were stolen in Woensdrecht in Brabant, followed by 11 sets on the Zeeland island of Tholen. Here too the thieves were very focused. They leave old systems behind and only the usual stuff is taken along.
Limburg farmers affected
The news was widely received. Also by the general media. On September 11, LLTB known that 8 GPS systems have also been stolen in Limburg from companies in the towns of Roerdalen and Echt-Susteren. It appears that the thefts have now moved to the north of the Netherlands.
Not a new phenomenon
It is unheard of for systems to be stolen on such a large scale. It's new phenomenon however not. In 2014, several systems were also stolen in the Netherlands. This involved different brands. Not very handy, since not every brand can be connected and used just like that.
However, the current wave of burglary specifically concerns systems from John Deere. They are interesting for the black market because they can be used anywhere. Systems equipped with a GSM-RTK correction can be traced.
Not always insured
In addition to a hefty loss, insurance is also a dangerous point. Sometimes it turns out that the GPS system is not insured after theft. Most insurers do not allow such systems to fall under the policy of the tractor. This is because GPS is seen as an accessory. Even when a GPS system is ordered ex works, it sometimes has to be insured separately. Not every owner knows this, which means that systems are unintentionally not covered by insurance. With some companies it is sufficient to name the system separately, but it is covered by the tractor insurance.
Take measures in advance
The police advise to store the GPS systems properly and to disassemble them as much as possible when not in use. Also make sure that all serial numbers of the system are known in advance. Immediately report to the police and also to the supplier or manufacturer of the equipment.
Niels van der Boom
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