Robert O’Shea of Littleton, Co Tipperary, is well known in farming circles. A farmer and contractor who is very active in IFA, he is also known as the Patchwork GPS distributor for Ireland. What he went through last week is something no-one should have to bear. His mother Mai passed away last Tuesday, with the funeral on Thursday. On Saturday night, his yard was ransacked by thieves, with thousands of euros of equipment stolen. On Sunday, they came back for more, cleaning the place out altogether.

Robert had hired security as a precaution while the family were focused on the funeral. The house and yard were monitored from Wednesday through to Friday night. The gang bided their time, and struck on Saturday night.

These were serious criminals. They had carefully planned the robbery. The yard is back from the road and secured by locked gates. The gang gained access through a back gate into the yard through a stubble field. A river runs by that field, flowing less than 100 yards behind the yard.

“The robbers had rolled three round bales into the river, in a row, allowing them a rear exit route if disturbed without even getting their feet wet.”

They had also set out their defences. At the door of the shed, they had assembled some carefully selected tools with which to greet anyone who discovered their presence. “There was a Bushman saw with an extended handle for work we do for the council,” explained Robert. “Beside it were a billhook and a four-grain fork.”

The cost of replacing the stolen equipment will run into thousands. A compressor, hydraulic jacks, two sets of hydraulic pullers, socket sets, drills, angle grinders, vice grips – no item was too small to be pilfered.

Trying to draw up an inventory for insurance purposes will take time. “This is equipment built up over 35 years farming and contracting.

“On Monday, we had to head for Kelly’s of Borris to get a battery for the combine so we could cut,” said Robert. “Diesel was also stolen.”

Robert’s is not an isolated case. “I’m aware of five similar robberies over the last couple of weeks, all within a three-mile radius,” he says.

Robert is beefing up his security, and will install beam alarms in the yard. His advice to farmers? “If anyone realises they have intruders, contact the Gardai and neighbours first. Think twice before confronting them, no matter how angry you are, and you will be angry, because they have no respect for anyone or anything.”

The reality is that these thieves only profit because people are willing to buy goods at knock-down prices, asking no questions as to their origin. A van in the yard, or at a car-boot sale, and it’s often farmers or contractors who buy this specialised equipment. It has to stop. We all have to stop.