When dealing with an unfamiliar seller on a private sale agreement, none of those things should be taken for granted.

READ MORE: More heft against theft

Fortunately, most of those can be easily verified. A thorough in-person inspection will reveal its condition. The person you deal with at your own bank can usually help you check to see if there are any financial liens registered against it.

And there is an online reference to help you determine if the machine has been reported stolen to the police.

CPIC (the Canadian Police Information Centre) offers limited public access to its computerized database, which records serial and identifying numbers for property the police have listed as stolen.

Standing beside a vehicle or machine you can access the website from your mobile device and punch in the serial number. In a few moments, the site will confirm whether that serial number is on file as stolen.

It’s the same system the police use when they make a check. Of course, accredited police agencies get much more information from it than is offered to the general public.

However, if the machine was stolen and the actual owner didn’t record the serial number, that information won’t have been given to the police and won’t show up on a CPIC search. So, it’s not an absolute guarantee the item isn’t stolen, but it’s the best check you can make to help you verify the legitimacy of a private purchase deal.

The CPIC site isn’t just restricted to machines and vehicles. Aside from vehicles, boats, boat motors, bicycles, general property items and firearm serial numbers can also be checked.

The post CPIC can confirm if a machine or vehicle is stolen appeared first on Grainews.

At the same time, farmers have taken the initiative to prevent theft through increased vigilance and investments in cameras, lighting and more.

Together, these factors seem to be making a little dent in Prairie farm crime. Anecdotally, there seem to be fewer media reports about grain theft and some other types of farm theft this year, and there’s also data from one Prairie province showing some kinds of farm theft are staying steady.

Before we look at that data, though, let’s remember that stats on farm crime are hard to come by.

Police resources are obviously focused on front-line crime prevention and dealing with crimes, leaving less time for detailed analysis of crime categories. Consequently, as Alberta RCMP analysts explain, they can’t determine “whether a theft occurred at a farm, where the farm was located in terms of proximity to an urban center, or specifically what the theft was, without a file review of all of the theft files” in the province (around 7,000 cases in 2024 so far by September).

Similarly, Saskatchewan RCMP reports that providing data on frequency trends and circumstances around farm theft is not possible, as it would require extensive file review.

However, Manitoba RCMP can offer a few insights. Planning analyst Laurel Illchuk did a search related to ‘farm’ in theft data from 2022, 2023 and 2024 year-to-date (YTD) to Sept. 30. However, she notes, with the small number of occurrences, a wide range of theft categories and a short time span, it’s difficult to comment on possible patterns in theft type or geographical area.

Some of the data is a little encouraging. “Overall, the number of farm theft occurrences went from 116 in 2022 to 96 in 2023,” Illchuk says. “The 2024 YTD number is at 76. With three months remaining in 2024, it is possible that the count of occurrences will be relatively the same as last year.”

At the same time, while the offence of ‘other theft under $5,000’ for Manitoba farms has remained relatively constant at 30 in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 21 in YTD 2024, the ‘theft over $5,000’ offence number is rising, from six in 2022 and 10 in 2023 to 12 by Sept. 30, 2024.

“Property that was most commonly stolen was fuel, trailers (utility, boat and other), farm equipment, motors, grain and some copper,” says Illchuk. “Theft of fuel has been declining but the number of various trailer theft occurrences is increasing.”

Occurrences of theft of grain have also declined, she says.

As for ‘theft of motor vehicles’ related to farms across Manitoba, this offence number has declined slightly over the last three years, and even more so with ‘theft of truck’ — 45 in 2022, 35 in 2023 and 24 in 2024 YTD.

That’s not to say farmers should get comfortable: overall, crime in rural areas is growing. In July 2024, for example, the Saskatchewan RCMP stated that compared to 2014, 2023 data shows that some of the rural parts of the province were seeing violent crime rates six times higher than in urban areas.

Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), a Manitoba general farm group, also noted last year that rural crime is increasing in Manitoba. In Altona, for example, property crime was up 37 per cent in 2023 compared to 2013.

Alberta

In Alberta, to support farmers and others in rural areas, the Alberta Sheriffs service has been expanded in both number and capability.

“Two new rural surveillance teams are working to prevent crime, monitor agricultural theft and collaborate with local law enforcement to share intelligence and resources to keep Albertans and their property safe and secure,” Arthur Green, spokesperson for the ministry of public safety and emergency services, says.

The teams, one covering northern Alberta and one covering southern Alberta, are each made up of one sergeant and seven sheriffs, he says.

These surveillance teams are “helping police” gather intelligence and information on known and suspected offenders and obtain evidence that helps lead to charges in court, he says. Investigations target offenders suspected in a range of illegal activities affecting rural Alberta, such as property theft, drug trafficking and vandalism.

Using phrases like sheriffs “helping police” has, however, led to confusion among members of the public about the official status of sheriff units. In late September, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith clarified that the province now has two police forces: RCMP and Alberta Sheriffs.

Smith also stated at that time the RCMP left her government no choice but to elevate the sheriffs with more training and duties. She said at a municipal leaders’ meeting that “we pay for 1,911 RCMP officers and they have 400 or 500 vacancies. We cannot allow for rural municipalities to be under-policed and so we have trained up our sheriffs so they have the same training as police.” (Note: Alberta RCMP have since stated there are 306 vacancies provincewide.)

Because of RCMP deficiencies, Smith said, the community of Grande Prairie has replaced the RCMP with its own police force, and that about 20 other communities are interested in going that route.

Trespassing and more

And while it seems like a problem from a TV show set a century ago, fugitives of the law are still a concern in Prairie provinces. These criminals can very easily show up on farms to commit theft — or worse, because they are on the run and can get cornered, could be desperate enough to interact directly with farmers, their family members and/or employees.

To address this, earlier this year the Alberta government created FASST (Fugitive Apprehension Sheriffs Support Team) to help police services find and arrest high-priority individuals on the lam. In its first seven months of operation, FASST executed more than 1,300 warrants and made over 300 arrests, Green says.

FASST’s operational jurisdiction includes all of rural Alberta, Green explains. He adds that “members of FASST are also trained and equipped for Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) response functions, meaning they’re available to answer requests for assistance from the RCMP on high-priority calls.” The RAPID Response initiative has also received funding for members of the Sheriff Highway Patrol to be trained and equipped to assist the RCMP with emergencies and high-priority calls. Since the expansion of the authorities of the Patrol in 2021, sheriffs have removed more than 4,700 impaired drivers from provincial highways.

And similarly to how fugitives may trespass and commit crimes on farms, those involved with drug activities are also now present in greater numbers in rural areas and may also impact farmers through theft and other means. The Alberta government said it has therefore also expanded the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) unit, which targets ‘problem properties’ associated with drug trafficking and more.

In October 2024, Smith and Cindy Woodhouse, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations also released a joint statement urging federal support for a national First Nations and Inuit policing program.

Alberta has allocated over $22.5 million to support policing in First Nation communities, including $12.2 million for three First Nation police services. Additionally, the Indigenous and Municipal Police Transition Study Grant is enabling several Indigenous communities to explore policing options that best meet their needs.

Saskatchewan

Similarly, Saskatchewan is now creating a provincial Marshals Service (SMS) with a focus on agricultural crime such as theft of livestock, metal and chemicals, but also gang- and drug-related crimes involving illegal weapons and more.

SMS is expected to start operating as early as mid-2025, with 70 officers plus about 30 support staff in areas such as records management, procurement and logistics.

SMS will have its first regional headquarters in Prince Albert, with locations for field offices now being determined. Chief Marshal Rob Cameron says he and his team are getting closer to final location decisions.

“We used government of Saskatchewan data scientists and also used Statistics Canada information and localized datasets from other law enforcement agencies,” he says. “Our goal is to address organized crime and gang activity, illegal guns, drugs and trafficking, but we’re also looking to cover as much of the province as we can — to look at the provincial crime picture and have as much impact as we can. We want to provide policing enhancements to all areas of the province.”

In terms of how SMS will aim to reduce rural crime, Cameron says it’s the extra boots on the ground that will be a big part of reducing all types of crimes in all areas of Saskatchewan.

He stresses “SMS is also going to be part of a collaborative approach. We’ve been having a lot of meetings about how that collaborations should happen and how the SMS should be used. We’re getting great ideas on how we can be a force multiplier.”

Manitoba

As in Alberta, there are complaints in Manitoba that rural crime is rising because there aren’t enough RCMP officers. Several municipalities, such as Carberry and the Rural Municipality of North Cypress-Langford have asked federal and provincial justice ministers for increased RCMP presence.

In October this year, the Rivers Police Service (serving the town of Rivers and the Riverdale area, about 30 km north of Brandon) was shut down, after a century of operation, without any local input. The area will now be covered by RCMP in the region, but many residents want that local police force restored.

The province is looking at various solutions and has decided so far to roll out a ‘peace officer’ program for municipalities to use as they see fit. There’s also a Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP), which boasts about 40 chapters so far in rural Manitoba. A COPP chapter was launched in February at Vita, a southeastern community presently policed by nine RCMP officers at the Emerson-Morris detachment, about 45 minutes’ drive from Vita.

Successful applicants, once trained and provided with high-visibility vests and signage, patrol and submit information on suspicious activity to local police. CTV reported in February 2024 that residents in Grunthal, which had started a COPP group three months before, were already noticing a reduction in criminal activity.

The Association of Manitoba Municipalities has called for more funding for municipal police, and KAP has been actively seeking commitments from various levels of government to address the problem of rural crime for a long time.

“Increasing the resources allotted to law enforcement, including RCMP and the relevant municipal bodies, to address rising crime rates should be the top priority for government,” KAP president Jill Verwey says.

There continue to be reports of all types of items stolen from farms in many rural areas, she says, “whether it be vehicles, grain, livestock, equipment, and break and enters into the homes of producers, where their personal possessions and valuables are stolen. We are committed to working with our members, law enforcement and other government bodies to assist in tracking these instances to hopefully identify any patterns or common trends to reduce their occurrences.”

KAP is also working with members on crime prevention.

The key to success

While police forces are being enhanced across the Prairies, farmers and other property owners should be — and are — taking their own actions to protect their property and themselves from criminals.

Those farmers who are keeping themselves out of the statistics understand the simple key to success: multiple layers of protection. Multiple barriers reduce the chances of a criminal’s success and increase the chances of being caught, causing thieves to go elsewhere.

Carolyn McTighe, RCMP Southern Alberta district crime prevention liaison, advises that rural property owners should invest in good lighting, in particular LED motion-activated lights, as well as security cameras and sturdy disc locks for sheds and other outbuildings.

“Maintaining a secure property perimeter is also important, so the installation of fencing and lockable gates is always ideal in limiting unauthorized access,” she says. “It is also essential to store equipment and fuel securely, and make regular checks of your property, so you can ensure that there is no overgrowth of vegetation, which may obscure visibility. Clear security signage around the property can also act as a strong deterrent, as it indicates CCTV surveillance or the presence of other security measures.”

Saskatchewan RCMP advise the same ideas, but for farmers specifically, they highlight the need to make trespassing unattractive and suggest installing monitored security or alarm systems.

“Transport hay bales and livestock to locations where monitoring can happen, if possible,” a spokesperson says. “Move all equipment indoors. If this is not possible, store it in a well-lit area visible from your house but out of sight from the main roads. Keep an inventory of your equipment that includes descriptions, serial numbers, makes, models and pictures.”

Remember also to closely check locks regularly. Thieves have learned to cut off padlocks and replace them with similar locks of their own, coming back at another time to do the actual theft.

You could put inexpensive custom-made stickers on your padlocks, or use locks that are bolt cutter-resistant.

To prevent vehicle theft, never leave valuables inside, and always remove keys (and any garage door openers), then lock the doors. You should also install an electronic anti-theft system if your vehicle does not have one, and/or use a physical system such as a steering wheel lock.

Many farmers have already put in multiple barriers against grain theft, including camera systems (including 180- and 360-degree cameras) that send alerts if movement is detected or if there is tampering. Make sure your camera feeds have good lighting (flood lights that come on with motion detection) or use infrared cameras. Today’s cameras can be set to automatically zoom in, record to a cloud network and much more.

Reduce entry points to your grain storage area to on by installing fences, deep ditches or some other type of barrier at other points. Turn off the electrical unloading systems at your bins after use and check regularly for signs of tampering,

If you don’t know your current neighbours, get to know them and establish a solid reciprocating relationship to watch over each other’s properties, especially if one of you is away.

Lastly, make it easy for employees or family members to look after security. Create a document detailing how to check each blocked access point, check locks at all lock locations (including pictures and serial numbers of locks), how to check camera systems, and so on.

Report it all

All police forces also implore farmers and everyone else to report all crimes, even if they are small. This gives officers a clearer picture of the types and numbers of crimes occurring in their areas and to adjust accordingly.

And do it right away. As Verwey says, “it is imperative that farmers work with law enforcement and report these crimes when they take place.”

The post More heft against theft appeared first on Grainews.

“It’s unbelievable the amount of cases that have come through our organization in the last year and a half,” says Jonathan Neutens, head of agriculture at ATB Financial. “I don’t know what the percentage would be, but it’s large.”

He discussed the issue as one of the speakers at the recent CrossRoads Crop Conference in Calgary.

“Fraud prevention is something I think is starting to be considered as it relates to the future of finance, for sure.”

Neutens said during an interview that he wasn’t sure of all the reasons behind the increase in fraud, which involves “all of the banking world” as well as victims besides the agriculture industry. He said criminals are devising new ways to ensnare people as financial institutions implement tougher safeguards.

LISTEN: The Cyber-Savvy Farmer

He pointed to measures such as two-factor authentication that requires two separate, distinct forms of identification to prevent thieves from gaining access to online banking accounts. He said criminals have gone beyond phishing emails and smishing text messages, which impersonate legitimate sources to trick people into revealing sensitive data such as passwords or credit card numbers.

“We’ve had that occur where someone does a Google search for ATB, clicks on the top link, and the top link happens to be a fraudulent website that looks exactly like ATB’s. And you put in your information, you log in and they’ve got you, and then all they have to do is log into your account and change contact information so they get the two-factor authentication versus you, and then they can start firing up electronic payments.”

People should always double check the source of emails and texts, said Neutens.

“Sometimes the email address or the website address, it might only have one letter that’s different.”

A good practice is to directly type the correct URL for your financial institution into the address bar on your browser to conduct online banking, he said. It’s also wise to make 100 per cent sure you haven’t received a phishing email or a smishing text, even if you must first make a phone call to your financial institution or other legitimate source, he added.

Phishing emails can look exactly like those of someone familiar, such as a supplier, which could be due to the supplier’s email account being hacked, said Neutens.

“And if their email is hacked, (criminals) watch for the conversation style or what have you, and eventually they send you an email and they say, ‘oh, by the way, you need to change payment to this account, and click on this to make the payment’,” he said.

“If you click on something like that, and that takes you into your online banking or whatever it is and you do your two-factor authentication, then they’re watching it, and they’ve got it.”

ATB is working to improve its ability to detect fraudulent transactions more quickly by increasing the number of staff devoted to the problem, said Neutens. But if someone gets login information and changes a two-factor authentication, “there’s really nothing we can do about that because they’ve got it from you in some way, shape or form.

“We can’t stop that because that’s outside of our systems and outside of our control, and then they come in and they log in like it’s you. How is the banking system going to know the difference?”

Reality cheque

However, Neutens said the largest source of fraud involves cheques, and is a growing problem. One of the more interesting scams targets people who send cheques through the mail, he said.

“They’ve written a cheque to someone like John Deere, or whatever, like to a supplier, and that cheque gets stolen … a new cheque is done up basically using that bank account information with the same dollar amount, but to a different payee, so when the cheque clears, the customer sees the cheque clear and thinks it’s cleared until the supplier calls him and says, ‘Hey, when are you going to pay me?’”

Such crimes have cost some producers tens of thousands of dollars, said Neutens.

“It’s pretty often that farmers can cut a cheque to someone for $40,000, $50,000 or $60,000, and so yeah, we’ve had that.”

Modernizing the funding and payment system by moving away from cheques would be the easiest part of the solution to implement, and producers should stop using cheques if possible, Neutens said in an interview.

“They’re just too risky these days, so if you move away from cheques, do that and get into your online and EFTs (electronic fund transfers) and all that kind of stuff with two-factor authentication, and then just make freaking sure you understand what smishing is, you understand what phishing is, you understand how the fraudsters work,” he said.

“And we have those resources. You can reach out to us at ATB and we’ll give you the resources to help you understand and get trained up on what that is so that you can hopefully not get caught in one of these situations.”

Hacks and hustles

Phishing: One of the most common types of cyber fraud. Hackers use fake emails or text messages that trick users into sharing personal information such as bank details.

Smishing: Deceptive text messages that lure victims into sharing personal or financial information, clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful software or applications.

Malware: Malicious software such as a virus that can destroy, damage or exploit computers or computer systems.

Worms: A malicious software that replicates itself and spreads from computer to computer. Unlike viruses, worms do not need to be attached to a computer program to do damage. They work silently and infect the device without the user’s knowledge.

Ransomware: Cyber criminals use it to lock a device or steal information. They then demand a ransom to restore access or return the information. Payment is usually demanded as a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.

Spyware: Malicious software that infiltrates a device and monitors activity. Criminals can then steal logins, passwords and credit card information.

Trojan horse viruses: Code or software that looks legitimate but can take control of a computer.

Distributed denial of service attacks: Occurs when hackers attempt to make a website or computer unavailable by flooding it with internet traffic.

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In total, they lost about 1,600 bushels of canola — the harvest from 40 acres — from their farm, which is located about 230 kilometres west of Winnipeg. The canola was worth about $40,000 at the time.

“My brother saw a truck pull into the driveway where this bin is located and whoever was in that truck was scouting,” Wedderburn says. “They came back that night. We had the auger in the bin.

“It’s a really big hit and if I was just starting out at grain farming and had a $40,000 theft, I’d be broke.”

In Wedderburn’s view, farmers don’t consider how much value is stored in their grain bins — and don’t realize how vulnerable they are to theft.

Like anyone would be, Wedderburn was shocked. He thought he lived in a community where something like this would never happen.

After thinking about it, he considered the theft might have been carried out by a fellow farmer. That year, some farmers couldn’t meet contract requirements and were left in the lurch. Wedderburn says he wouldn’t be surprised if the canola theft had been committed to make up the difference in a contract.

“There were a lot of farmers in that position last winter,” he says. “And canola was the most valuable crop.”

You are not alone

Wedderburn says he has seen it reported in the media that grain theft is not an issue because it doesn’t happen very often. However, Wedderburn disagrees. “I hear about it all the time,” he says.

This year, it has been reported a farmer near Alexander, Man., had grain stolen, as did another in the municipality of Argyle.

In early May, near Ponteix, Sask., RCMP reported a theft of 1,300 bushels of durum seed. And even hay bales have been stolen in the recent past in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

According to RCMP in Manitoba, one complaint has been filed in the Wasagaming area for grain theft. The theft was canola worth about $35,000 at the time, says RCMP Manitoba media relations officer Sgt. Paul Manaigre.

In 2022 so far, he says Swan River RCMP received a report of a theft of approximately 53,000 litres of grain. In addition, about $165,000 worth of grain was stolen from a Sioux Valley-area farmer and about $20,000 worth of wheat was stolen from a farmer in the Boissevain area.

However, there may be more victims out there.

“It’s impossible to ascertain the true numbers of grain thefts as it is quite likely others may have fallen victim to theft but have not noticed the missing volumes when it comes time to the emptying of their bins and the selling of their product,” notes Manaigre.

Farmer opts for grain confetti

Manaigre urges farmers to consider the use of what’s called grain confetti or markers, which go a long way in preventing grain theft. The grain confetti have unique code numbers and are mixed into the grain. At the elevator, staff calls the maker of the markers to confirm the grain being unloaded actually belongs to the person who is unloading.

The first thing Wedderburn did after discovering the theft of his grain was to put Manitoba-made Cropgard grain markers in the remainder of the bin. “I will also put it in my bins this fall,” he says.

Country Graphics, based in Rosenort, Man., has been making Cropgard for 40 years and it’s the only business making the markers in the province. Cropgard consists of quarter-inch squares of food-safe paper on which unique code numbers are printed with vegetable-based ink. These are mixed with the grain. Each box order is sufficient to treat 50,000 bushels and costs under $200.

Country Graphics manager, Valerie Schellenberg, says she has never heard of the theft of marked grain. In 2021, Cropgard sales increased, likely due to higher commodity prices, she says. In total, Country Graphics sold 160 boxes, more than three times the average in past years.

Grain markers are a good deterrent because while stealing grain thieves also steal thousands of pieces of evidence that can be used against them. Thieves need to be aware the grain contains markers, which is why each box of CropGard includes five large warning decals to be placed on and around the bin.

“Some farmers ask for additional decals,” says Schellenberg. “These are good quality, fairly aggressive decals and are about eight by five inches in size.”

Some companies that make grain monitoring cables also offer a theft deterrent option. In addition to providing temperature alerts, the system provides the option to receive alerts if your grain handling equipment is started or stopped. Some companies, like Tri-States Grain Conditioning (which is based in Iowa but serves Canadian customers), also allow you to configure alerts during harvest to monitor truck loading and unloading at your bin sites.

More tips and strategies for grain and farm security

There are several strategies you can take to prevent grain or other types of farm theft.

Like other forms of theft, grain theft takes planning and preparation. A strategic approach employing multiple security measures can decrease your risk of being a victim of theft. Every form of security you use on your farm adds another deterrent layer for thieves, making your farm not worth the effort and the risk of getting caught.

Read over the farm security tips below and then examine your property from a thief’s perspective. Make a farm security plan and execute it.

Security locks: a thief’s strategy

The variety of locks available to you is greater than ever. Bolt cutter-resistant locks may cost more but are well worth it. Keep in mind thieves will scout a location as the first step to stealing from your farm. Their second step is to cut off padlocks with bolt cutters and replace them with locks of their own, which makes it much quicker for them to carry out the theft. This means you need to check every lock regularly to make sure it’s yours.

Install or purchase more cameras

Wedderburn is putting up more cameras. “The thief at my bin was loading for over an hour,” he says. “At least the police can have that footage if this ever happens again.”

If your grain bin is in an area with cellular coverage, you will be able to connect with the camera and receive alerts if there is movement in the camera view (or if the camera is tampered with). There are many 180- and 360-degree cameras available and night vision cameras use infrared light to take images in the dark. Cameras can be set to automatically zoom in, record to a cloud network and much more.

Light it up

Invest in a good lighting system at your bins. Like cameras, lighting systems now come with a wide range of options to provide better security. Flood lights can be set for motion activation, remote control and more. Make sure your camera feeds have good lighting if they are not infrared cameras.

Choose future bin sites carefully

Consider carefully where you place new bins. When possible, place bins near your home or the home of a trustworthy friend or family member, or along a busy road.

Create a single entry point

A single entry point to your grain storage area is a very good idea. Remove other access points with fences, deep ditches or other kinds of physical barriers.

Get friendly

It’s time to get to know your neighbours if you don’t already. Establish a mutual relationship where you keep an eye out for each other in general, but especially when you are away.

Turn it off and secure it

Be sure to turn off the electrical unloading systems at your bins. Farmers should also check their stored grain regularly for signs of tampering, offers Manaigre.

Train others

Make sure employees or family members know what to do when checking grain bins for tampering or to check locks to ensure they haven’t been swapped out by thieves. That is, make up a simple sheet with the lock locations, what blocked access points should be checked and so on. Make it easy for others to do the job right.

Report suspicious behavior

If you do see something unusual, call your neighbours but also don’t hesitate to call local police. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Farmer takes action

Wedderburn is still hopeful the thieves who stole his grain last December will be tracked down. “The police have some leads and I’m not giving up on it,” he says.

The farmer has another idea that will benefit farmers across the province. “I want to start some kind of a focus group,” he says. “Politicians, police, farmers — get everyone together. I’ve sent letters to my MLA. There is nobody in policing in the province who is educated about grain theft, no one dedicated to this type of theft, and we need at least one person in the province who knows what they are doing and knows how the grain industry works. There was a woman who used to work with the RCMP and broke a grain theft case a few years ago and I put the local police in touch with her.”

The post Tips to prevent grain theft on your farm appeared first on Grainews.

Country Guard Security, based in Devon, Alta., specializes in protecting farms and acreages against property crimes and has clients across Alberta. The owner, Guy Spiro, who set up the business 15 years ago after serving in the military, says he has seen a dramatic increase in farm thefts since the beginning of the pandemic.

“When I first started, the reports were minimal,” he says. “You’d hear a story from an area once or twice a year. Now, since (the pandemic), it’s more like once a week.”

According to Spiro, most farm thefts are petty crime, involving easy-to-steal things like fuel, tools, bicycles and quads. Thefts occur year-round both during the day and at night, although there is a slowdown in very cold weather, which is usually followed by an uptick in crime in warmer spring conditions.

Spiro sees two common patterns of rural crime. One is the opportunistic, unplanned, snatch-and-grab variety. The other is planned and typically follows one or more visits by thieves who scope out properties along a certain route.

Spiro has more than 300 different pieces of technology that can be used both for perimeter protection and in farm buildings to discourage thieves. Sirens, flashing lights, yard lights, video cameras, motion detectors, monitors, infrared sensors, silent alerts and remote reporting tools are all in the security expert’s tool bag.

Often, rural criminals make a list of properties to target and will hit several of them in one night. “If they’re scoping six properties, you want your place at the bottom of their list. Make it difficult for them. You want them thinking, ‘This place has just too many obstacles,’” Spiro says.

Spiro considers community action as the first line of defense against rural thieves. Because it takes time for police to respond to calls in rural areas, Spiro advises farmers to participate in an alert system with nearby neighbours, which can easily be set up on a social media network like Facebook. This way, by sharing surveillance footage or reporting a suspicious-looking vehicle, for example, farmers can rely on each other to help keep their rural neighbourhoods safe.

“Less crime happens when people have a higher awareness,” says Spiro. “Criminals won’t be aware of it, but as soon as they go into an area like that, they will sense it. They can see that people are out there, watching and alert, and they’ll go somewhere else.”

New crime watch app for Alberta

The Alberta Provincial Rural Crime Watch Association (APRCWA) has developed an app with the help of provincial RCMP that enables farmers to use their smartphones to report suspicious and criminal activities anywhere in rural Alberta. It was released for public use on the Apple and Google app stores last December.

The app uses GPS data to identify the nearest RCMP detachment and provides contact information and links so reports can be submitted either over the phone or online. There’s also an option to include photos of lost or stolen property if you wish.

According to APRCWA, the reports will build up a database to assist Alberta RCMP with analyzing crimes and possibly help lead investigators to chronic offenders.

The rural crime watch app has other features like RCMP boundary maps, safety tips and news bulletins from APRCWA. It also has a social services section with names and numbers for reporting urgent needs such as abuse, bullying, and suicide prevention and other mental health issues.

APRCWA president Cor De Wit encourages all rural Albertans to try the new app, which he says is part of a new direction for the grassroots organization that began in the 1980s.

“We try to appeal to young and beginning farmers, to acreage owners and small-town residents. We don’t stop crime in progress or go out to catch criminals. We are proactive. If something is suspicious or strange, we report it,” says De Wit.

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