BAS-RHIN: GPS THEFTS ARE INCREASING AMONG FARMERS, THE GENDARMERIE CALLS FOR VIGILANCE
In recent months, several farmers have been victims of theft in Alsace. On their farms, one object is particularly targeted by thieves: agricultural GPS, the value of which reaches several tens of thousands of euros.
Installed like an antenna on the roof of his tractor, the object guides Jérémy Schuwer through his fields. The market gardener readily admits that the agricultural GPS is an "almost indispensable" element for his daily work.
The theft he suffered a few weeks ago was a real blow. Thieves broke into one of his sheds and stole two agricultural GPS devices. The damage is estimated at 37,000 euros.
Resold in Eastern countries
"We're upset and that's it...", he laments, aware that there is "very little chance" that his equipment will ever be found. Because the regular route taken by the stolen agricultural GPS devices starts in the Alsatian fields and ends in Eastern European countries, particularly Poland and Romania.
"Very often, these are antennas that are resold in Eastern countries," confirms Jérémy on BFMTV.
The Bas-Rhin gendarmes have noted an increase in the phenomenon since January. They are calling on farmers to take steps to protect themselves and to exercise caution.
"Very organized groups"
"We often deal with very organised groups. So if the operators are not vigilant enough to install deterrent systems, things can go very quickly," warns Captain Andrée Ntore Bikene, assistant prevention officer at the Bas-Rhin gendarmerie.
The department's farmers' unions, for their part, are urging their members to cooperate as much as possible with the police and to report any incident, even minor. "Even if ten tomato plants are stolen from us, we have to file a complaint. Because it starts with ten tomato plants and ends with the tractor," assures Laurent Fischer, vice president of the FDSEA of Bas-Rhin.
But in order to protect yourself from unpleasant and costly surprises, it is necessary to make substantial investments: Laurent had to pay out nearly 8,000 euros to install a video surveillance system on his farm.
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