FARMERS in Herefordshire have been hit by rural crime, leaving them facing the consequences of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of machinery theft.

West Mercia Police said that members of the local farming community have faced delays and disruption to harvesting and cultivating work after more than £100,000 worth of GPS domes used for tractors and combines was stolen last year.

This was across 13 separate incidents from February to October.

Police have responded to the incidents with Operation Walrus, a national operation addressing thefts of the GPS domes, which are sophisticated pieces of kit used to guide farm vehicles.

Officers visited arable farms and carried out crime investigation work. A spokesperson said: "One of our victims, at Ross-on-Wye, helped us run a covert operation for three months. And crime prevention days, including Smart Water marking projects, delivered key messages to farmers at Hereford Market and Tillington Court which so far has reached some 300 farmers. This has seen significant progress and in the past nine months there has not been a single GPS dome stolen in Herefordshire."

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Police Constable Jim Cooke said: "It is clear that removing the domes at the end of the day and securing them overnight has had a dramatic impact.

"The covert policing operations and the crime prevention presentations, supported by Ali Parker from the NFU, has seen farmers receive crime prevention advice and smart water to protect valuable agricultural equipment including GPS Domes. 

"Anyone who wants crime advice or help protecting their farm equipment should get in touch by calling PC James Cooke on 07773 053771 or RABO John Meek on 07790 951032."