WEST E R N A U S T RALIA

Rural crimeprevention

PROTECTING YOUR RURAL PROPERTY FROM CRIME

Office ofCrime Prevention

RURAL CRIMEPREVENTION ADVICE

CONTENTS

Designing Out Crime 5

Securing farm machinery 7

Livestock theft 8

Property marking 11

Fuel tank security 12

Trespassers and shooters 15

Reporting a crime 16

Rural watch 18

Useful links and contacts 19

CONTENTS | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 3

Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | DESIGNING OUT CRIME4

Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

DESIGNING OUT CRIMEVisibility is a key factor for thieves. If thievesbelieve they can get into and out of your propertywithout being seen, your property is at higher risk.

• Consider surveillance when designing anderecting new buildings, sheds or stockyards.(Ideally, build them in sight of a farm house)

• Opportunity and accessibility are other keyconsiderations for thieves. Make it hard forthieves to access your property to discouragethem.

• Construct sheds from strong materials withheavy duty rollers or metal gates at entrances.Use good quality chains and padlocks to lockdoors or gates.

• Consider installing closed circuit television(CCTV). This can assist in a successfulidentification and prosecution of offenders.

• Secure gates. A gate is only secure if it is closedand locked. Gates at entrances to your propertyand high risk areas should be as strong aspossible, mounted securely to strong cornerposts, and locked with heavy-duty chains andpadlocks.

• Movement sensored spotlights could also beconsidered where practical.

DESIGNING OUT CRIME | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 5

“Opportunity and accessibility are other keyconsiderations for thieves”

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | SECURING FARM MACHINERY6

Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

SECURING FARM MACHINERY• Where possible, store farm machinery in a

secured shed, preferably in sight of afarmhouse, or grouped in a highly visible area.If a shed is not available, a fenced enclosurethat can be padlocked is a good alternative.

• If machinery needs to be left on locationovernight, if possible, position machinery whereit can be seen from a neighbour’s or employee’shouse, or park it out of sight of passers-bybehind a hill or tree line.

• Lock vehicles and machinery.

• Remove the keys from powered equipment andif possible and practical, disable the equipmentby removing the distributor cap, rotor orbattery.

• You can secure equipment with heavy chainsand good quality locks. Either chain and lockpieces of equipment together; or to trees orother stationary objects; or chain the rear tothe front wheel or axle.

• Avoid leaving valuable items displayed inside avehicle or leave tools or other items scattered invehicle trays, it may be targeted. If a tool box isattached, secure the contents with a goodquality padlock.

• Use lockable fuel caps.

• Maintain an inventory with a description,record of serial numbers, chassis and modelnumbers of machines.

• Photograph or video machinery and valuableitems.

SECURING FARM MACHINERY | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 7

LIVESTOCK THEFTResearch indicates livestock theft is the mostsignificant rural crime. Clear identification limitssaleability of stock and greatly aids identificationand return of stolen stock.

• Maintain good stock records. Keep accuraterecords of all livestock bought and sold fromyour property. Record all births and deaths oflivestock and record all details of identificationnumbers.

• Regularly check your stock and the paddocksand fences where the stock are grazing.

• Keep all paddocks, shed and stockyard gatesclosed and locked. Use locking posts toobstruct large openings to yards.

• Ditches form a natural barrier. Cattle grids canbe removed and locked out of position whennot in use.

• If possible, locate stockyards or loading rampsaway from public roads or main entrances toyour property. Keep them locked when not inuse. Ensure loading ramps are stored out ofsight when not in use.

• Ensure livestock have clear and appropriateidentification. This is a requirement under theNLIS (National Livestock Identification System).For further information see www.mla.com.auor www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock.htm.

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | LIVESTOCK THEFT8

“Ensure livestockhave clear andappropriateidentification”

LIVESTOCK THEFT | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 9

Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | PROPERTY MARKING10

Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

PROPERTY MARKINGProperty marking deters theft and makes selling ofstolen goods harder. There are a number ofoptions for marking property:

•• Hard etching

•• Welding

•• Etching

•• Metal punching

•• Chemical marking

•• Property registration

•• Microdot technology

•• Microchip technology

• A useful identification is to mark equipmentwith your driver's licence number followed bythe letters ‘WA’ for your State. Or use yourproperty's stock brand.

• Maintain a complete list of all property andstock with descriptions of the colour, serialnumbers, unique markings and ID numbers.

• Photographs or videos make excellentsupporting documents, and can be useful todescribe an item or animal, and keep in asecure location.

• Advertise that your property has been markedby attaching labels on machinery and buildings.

• Selling your equipment – some equipment maychange hands many times. It is suggested younotify the new owner that you have markedyour equipment with an ID number andsuggest that the new owner put his/her markbelow yours.

PROPERTY MARKING | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 11

FUEL TANK SECURITYThe theft of fuel is one of the most common typesof theft on farms.

• Lock your fuel tank cut-off valve rather thanthe nozzle and hose. If there is an electricallycontrolled pump on the tank, locate the controlswitch in a locked building or in the house, andturn off the electricity when the fuel tank is notin use. Close and lock the valves on all on-groundand overhead tanks when not in use.

• Turn off power to pumps.

• Fuel theft can be reduced by properly locatingstorage tanks. Tanks are less visible and muchmore difficult to steal from when placedunderground.

• On large properties, where tanks are needed toservice isolated areas of the property, ensurethey are kept locked and located out of sight ofa public road. Consider only filling these tanksover the time they are in use.

• Mobile tanks used to service farm machineryover busy periods also need to be locked andstored out of sight when not in use.

• Dip your tanks and monitor your fuel usage sothat you know if there is an unexplained loss offuel. Install a flow meter to supervise fuel use.

• Keep a book at the tank for each user to recordfuel usage for various vehicles and machinery.

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | FUEL TANK SECURITY12

FUEL TANK SECURITY | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 13

Photo courtesy of Farmsafe WA Alliance Inc

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | TREASPASSERS AND SHOOTERS14

TRESPASSERS AND SHOOTERS• Place ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘Private Property’

signs at entry points from roads or highways,including the main entrance to your home,access roads to paddocks and areas alongboundary fences. These signs notify intrudersthat they are trespassing.

• Put up warning signs letting potential thievesand trespassers know that there are watchdogs, alarms on the premises, and identificationmarks on all your equipment.

• Sturdy fences with gates located at propertyaccess points prevent trespassing.

• Contact the Police if your fences appear to bedeliberately cut or tampered with.

• Ask shooters who request access to yourproperty for a reference from a farmer in thedistrict.

• Use shooters from reputable ShootersAssociations.

• Ask shooter to give you a clear outline of theirproposed movements on the property.

TREASPASSERS AND SHOOTERS | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 15

“Sturdy fences with gates located at property accesspoints preventtrespassing”

REPORTING A CRIMENo theft is too small to report! It may offer theclue leading to an arrest or the breaking of anagricultural crime ring.

• Try not to disturb anything in or around thearea involved until the police arrive.

• Prevent people or animals from trampingaround the area or in areas where entry waspossibly made.

• Police will require:

•• information such as where the items werepurchased;

•• descriptive information and any otherinformation that might be of use to officersin regard to suspicious people and vehicles.

• When reporting thefts of livestock, you need toprovide police with information on:

•• the breed, age and sex of the animals, thetype of identification used and theidentification numbers;

•• where the stock were located;

•• when you last checked the stock;

•• any other relevant information.

NB: It is also important to let the police know should youfind your stock again.

How to report a crime:

Your local Police 131 444Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000www.crimestoppers.com.au

NB: Only use the 000 for life threatening situations

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | REPORTING A CRIME16

REPORTING A CRIME | RURAL CRIME PREVENTION 17

Photo courtesy of the WA Police Public Affairs

RURAL WATCHConsider joining Rural Watch, which is part ofNeighbourhood Watch (NHW).

Neighbourhood Watch is a series of programsaimed at making individuals aware of crimeprevention initiatives and activities in and aroundthe home, within rural communities, by the oceanand in schools.

It is about working together as a community toimprove our personal safety and householdsecurity. Most importantly, it is about encouraginginteraction and a sense of responsibility betweenneighbours and communities.

Neighbourhood Watch is about you, your localneighbourhood, the wider community and the WAPolice working together to establish and maintaina safer community by:

• Reducing violence, crime and fear.

• Building a safer community.

• Preventing crime that affects you.

• Enhancing effective communication, and

• Developing community spirit.

To find out how to join NHW log on towww.nhw.wa.gov.au or call 08 9356 0555

Address:Neighbourhood Watch8 Burton StreetCANNINGTON WA 6107

RURAL CRIME PREVENTION | RURAL WATCH18

Neighbourhood Watch & Rural Watch www.nhw.wa.gov.au 08 9356 0555

Fire and Emergency Services Authority (in emergency) www.fesa.wa.gov.au 000General enquiries 1800 199 084

FarmSafe WA Alliance Inc www.farmsafewa.org 08 9359 4118

Department of Agriculture and Food www.agric.wa.gov.au 08 9368 3333

Meat & Livestock Australia www.mla.com.au 08 9226 2111

Small Landholder Service www.agric.wa.gov.au/small_landholder 08 9368 380708 9733 7777

Institute of Rural Futures www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au 02 6773 2220

Livestock information www.agric.wa.gov.au/livestock.htm 08 9368 3333

WA Farmers Federation www.wafarmers.org.au 08 9486 2100

Pastoralists and Graziers Association www.pgaofwa.org.au 08 9479 4599

USEFUL LINKS AND CONTACTS

The Office of Crime Prevention acknowledges New South Wales Police for their valuable contribution in the developmentof this ‘Rural Crime Prevention’ brochure.

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Photo courtesy of the Department of Agriculture and Food

IMPORTANT CONTACT NUMBERSPolice assistance 131 444

Emergency 000

Emergency – mobile phone 112

Emergency – hearing impaired 106

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000

Goodbye Graffiti hotline 1800 442 255

Office of Crime PreventionLevel 5, 197 St Georges Terrace

Perth WA 600008 9222 9733

www.crimeprevention.wa.gov.au