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Thieves who stole over €160,000 worth of satellite receivers and GPS monitors from machinery dealers over the weekend also targeted farmers in their co-ordinated raid.
Kevin McCann, a farmer outside Camolin, Co Wexford had his GreenStar monitor and StarFire receiver stolen from his 19-year-old tractor over the weekend. The units were taken sometime between 10pm on Saturday night and Monday morning.
Kevin said thieves stole the unit from his tractor having cut the lock into the shed where it was parked.
“Whoever did this knew the value of what they were taking. They left behind the less-valuable wire harness and steering motor and only took the screen and receiver. They knew exactly what they wanted and they took it out as clean as it was put in.”
Targeted
Given the age of the tractor and the location in which it was stored, Kevin said whoever stole the unit knew he had one and did not come across it by chance.
Kevin said with the unit gone he would be left without GPS guidance on his main fertiliser and spraying tractor which he used for contract jobs.
“I’m in the process of ordering a new one but these lads know that and is it the case they’re going to come back for it?”
Kevin appealed for anyone with information to come forward but said he feared the unit had already left the country.
Unprecedented
Over 20 other units were taken by the thieves who targeted two John Deere dealers, Meath Farm Machinery and Templetuohy Farm Machinery depots in Laois and Wexford. Another farmer in Portlaoise also had his unit stolen over the weekend.
The scale and co-ordination of the theft is the first of its kind in Ireland according to Meath crime prevention officer Sergeant Dean Kerins. He said individual farmers had been targeted previously but the theft of such a large number in such a short space of time was unprecedented.
Sgt Kerins said it was clear the thieves were experienced operators due to the manner in which the units were taken without any damage.
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