Recovery rates for stolen plant double

Recovery rates for stolen plant have almost doubled since the Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) was set up last October.

Since then, 3,900 items of plant have been reported stolen and 9.2% have been recovered - a big rise from the previous 5% level. The figures are even better for Cesar-registered machines, with 39 of the 137 marked machines stolen to date being recovered - a rate of 28.4%.

In the last quarter alone, more than £650,000-worth of machinery has been recovered and the number of people awaiting trial for plant theft-related crimes has climbed steadily to eight.

PANIU's DC Ian Elliott said the increase in the recovery rates is largely down to Cesar registration: "Some of this is the direct recovery of Cesar-registered machines, but often other stolen plant is recovered at the same site and on a wider scale police officers now have more confidence in challenging those transporting plant around the country."

Mini excavators remain the thieves' favourite and there has been an increase in the theft of vibrating rollers.

One of the latest successes involves three people charged with conspiracy to handle, who were arrested while driving a vehicle liveried in Hewden colours, but which did not belong to the hirer. Similar look-alike vehicles from other hirers and contractors have been reported to the police.

In a recent court case, two thieves were sentenced to five years each for conspiracy to handle stolen plant after Surrey Police identified stolen items of plant offered for sale on an internet auction site.

PANIU is keen to hear of any suspicious activity and can be contacted via email on paniu@met.pnn.police.uk.