The rural geography of the Island presents unique policing challenges for the Constabulary.
Preventing and detecting crime is often harder due to the fact that there may be fewer witnesses to criminal activity and there are greater opportunities for criminals to target isolated properties and businesses.
Rural Safer Neighbourhoods teams are working hard in rural towns and villages to identify priorities and solve community problems.
Keys and locks
Leave vehicles out of sight when not in use.
Vehicles and plant equipment should be locked when left outside and the keys kept in your possession or in a locked key safe.
Consider the use of hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors. You may require a combination of the above to meet insurance requirements.
Security marking
All property, including vehicles and tools, should be uniquely marked, photographed and details such as serial, chassis and model numbers recorded.
The purpose of marking property is:
to reduce the payoff to the thief – traceable property may be more difficult to sell on
to increase the likelihood of identifying property as stolen – thereby assisting prosecution
to increase the likelihood of re-uniting property with the owner
There are a number of methods for marking property effectively.
Covertly – for example through use of Forensic DNA marker as liquid, gel or grease; UV pen; tracking or tagging technology; micro-marking.
Overtly – by engraving/chemical etching; labels; postcoding or use of bar codes.
Tracker and data tagging
Consider fitting a tracking device or a data tagging chip. Your insurance company can provide advice on suitable products.
Scrap metal theft
Dispose of scrap metal regularly and legitimately to make your premises less vulnerable to metal thieves.
If you are approached by opportunistic scrap dealers; tell them you have a contract with a legitimate dealer and ask them to leave.
Report incidents of suspicious activity to the police and if possible record vehicle details and descriptions of the people involved.
Diesel theft
Store diesel in a secure fuel tank within a bund and use good quality locks.
Avoid installing storage tanks in isolated areas such as outlying buildings.
Consider using a mobile tanker that could be removed to a secure place when not in use.
Consider the use of a diesel dye; that makes your diesel traceable and therefore less attractive to thieves.
Report incidents of suspicious activity to the police and if possible record vehicle details and descriptions of the people involved
