Farm fuel thefts highlight rural security battle

Photo / File

Fuel thefts from a North Otago farm last week highlight the need for farmers to be security-conscious.

Federated Farmers rural security spokesman Miles Anderson said it was a constant battle to protect farming properties.

He was responding to news that both a 1000-litre and a 400-litre petrol tank were emptied on an Enfield farm, west of Oamaru.

Farmers needed to be careful where they installed items like fuel tanks, Mr Anderson said.

Federated Farmers rural security spokesman Miles Anderson. Photo / Supplied

''You've got to put them in high-use parts of your farm where people could notice any suspicious activities, including visits from unknown people and vehicles.

''Also, people have to check their fuel levels regularly. Sometimes fuel thefts aren't noticed until a certain employee has left and it becomes clear that fuel use has gone down.''

Fuel tanks should be secured and locked, security lighting should illuminate them, a fuel consumption inventory should be kept so thefts could be identified quickly, and farmers should take note of suspicious vehicles and activities in their area.

Thefts must be reported to the police, Mr Anderson said.

''If they're not reported, they're not recorded and police will not allocate resources to rural communities.''

A 2016 Federated Farmers survey of 1012 respondents showed that 25% of them had been victims of fuel thefts - the third-highest farm crime reported.