Exclusive data obtained by the Irish Farmers Journal has revealed that in the four years to the end of 2013, a total of 1,080 vehicles were declared stolen from Irish farms.

The figures, which were specially collated by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), show that in 2010 there were 264 vehicles registered as stolen. In 2011 the figure rose 302 before falling slightly to 297 in 2012. The figure in 2013 fell again to 229. The figures account for tractors, jeeps and cars taken without permission.

The fall of almost 70 reported vehicles stolen conflicts with anecdotal evidence. However, the caveat is that the figures compiled by the CSO only account for vehicles which were reported stolen to the gardaí and the person’s insurance company.

Last month, it was reported how there had been a spate of jeep thefts in Monaghan, with as many as five jeeps stolen in the space of two weeks. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that the number plates of these jeeps were changed and the vehicles were sent to the north for resale.

In a second wave of thefts around the border in March, there were reports of a digger being stolen every day in the region in the first two weeks of the month.

The Irish Farmers Journal learned that these diggers were destined for the export market in Britain and Eastern Europe.