LiveView GPS Tracking Devices Help Farmers Track Down Hay Thieves
28 Jan 2013Across Kansas, Missouri, California, Oklahoma and other farms throughout America, thefts are becoming a growing problem, and it might not be what you think. Bales of hay are being ripped off in order to sell what has become a valuable, cash-fetching commodity.
As winter ensues, the price for bales of hay continues to rise. That and the droughts that have been affecting farms throughout the country is increasing the economic struggle farmers have to contend with. Add the theft of hay, which is a crucial source of food for sheep, cattle, and other livestock, and the problem multiplies exponentially.
In the county of Tillman Oklahoma, at one point, a bale of grass hay has gone from $15 to $25 to $65 o $70 due to the ongoing drought. Alfalfa bales have gone from $45 to $60 to $140 to $150. This is a hefty price for individual bales of hay, which is why thieves have begun stealing them from neighborhood farms.
The thieves are not only targeting single bundles of hay, but big bundles that farms leave out in their fields shortly before harvesting are also being targeted.This equals thousands of dollars lost for each farm, many of which are affected by multiple thefts. Some thieves seem to fill up their truck with hay, drop them off at a safe location, then return to the same farm and steal more. In one night, they can earn more than $1,000 from alfalfa bales of hay.
One such farm is located in Tillman county, Oklahoma decided to implant a GPS tracking device in one of the bales of hay they left in the field.
The GPS tracking device, Tillman Sherriff Whittington told NPR’s Renee Montagne, was placed in a bale of hay at a farm where he had suspicions there would be more hay thefts.
It “was programmed to text my cellphone whenever it left a certain area,” he said. “I received text about 9:40, 9:45 p.m.” The GPS device tracked the moving bale. They informed the local Tillman sheriff department that the hay was stolen and they were currently tracking its location.
“He was able to relay to me where the bale was at.” said the Tillman Sherriff. “I arrived in time to see the suspect vehicle kind of drop the bale off behind a house.”
The sheriff watched the thief as the vehicle returned to the same farm and stole another bale of hay. When approached, the thief tried to convince the sheriff it belonged to him. His story quickly changed after the sheriff explained that a GPS tracker was used to monitor his movements.
As reported on press-leader.com
“This is brand new technology for the Tillman County Sheriff Department,” said Sheriff Whittington. “This will make thieves think twice before trying to steal our hard working citizens property!” Sheriff Whittington encourages any farmer that suspects they have hay missing to contact him and make a report on it. “We will gladly put a tracking device in the hay and hopefully catch the people involved”.
Two suspects have been charged with concealing stolen property and were released free on bail awaiting further proceedings.
While this farm owner got relief from the theft and helped police track down the thieves, other farms weren’t so lucky. One farm in Kentucky lost 115 bales of hay totaling a loss of more than $6,000.
GPS tracking technology has long provided benefits from finding stolen cars to help business owners manage their fleets. Now, farms across the U.S. are utilizing GPS tracking technology to not only track their farm equipment and farm animals, but capture criminals responsible for stealing from their farms.
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