Tractor Thieves Caught with GPS Trackers

28 Jul 2021

GPS trackers help farmers protect their expensive farming equipment and materials, including tractors and hay bales. Farm owners and those who purchase from them will be interested to know that GPS tracking technology is allowing for reduced thefts as more thieves get caught. Word gets around and the overall amount of farming thefts of tractors and additional equipment or supplies is reduced.

Equipment

Tractors are some of the most expensive equipment on farms so it is no surprise the thefts have gone up. In a struggling economy, more thieves are turning to high-price equipment like tractors. On average, one tractor can go for $60,000, which is more than most vehicles. Farmers can’t afford to lose that much for stolen equipment, therefore making GPS tracking essential.

Any type of farming equipment can be equipped with a GPS tracker, including tractors. The GPS tracker can not only be tracked with an electronic device or computer, but it can also be programmed to alert the farmer once the tractor has been stolen. This allows them to contact the police and track the location of the stolen tractor on the interactive map. It will show exact coordinates of the tractor so that the farmer can recover their stolen property, and police can arrest the thieves. Since most farm thefts occur in the middle of the night, the alert feature is highly beneficial.

Materials

Farming materials, such as hay bales, are also being stolen. The theft of hay bales in particular are rising due to the rise of price. Grass hay can be up to $70 and alfalfa bays cost up to $150. This gives thieves a reason to steal the bales of hay and re-sell them for a profit. Since multiple bales of hay are stolen at a time, it could mean the loss of more than $1,000 in one night.

GPS trackers can also be placed inside these bales of hay so that farmers are alerted when one is stolen and is able to track its location. There was recently a farm in Oklahoma that did just that and not only recovered their stolen hay but was able to help police apprehend the thief. More farms throughout the country are beginning to utilize GPS technology for recovering stolen property and deterring future crimes..

Agricultural Industry

The agriculture industry in general benefits from GPS tracking. Farmers count on their equipment and materials to conduct business and earn a profit. When thousands of dollars are stolen in the night, the industry suffers alongside the neighborhood farms. Towns and cities throughout the United States need the farms to function normally, but thefts of materials or expensive equipment keeps that from occurring.

GPS technology offers a solution for tracking down stolen goods and arresting the criminals. This not only recovers stolen farm equipment but it deters other criminals from committing the same crime. Once thieves know GPS trackers are being used by their local farms, they aren’t going to continue attempting to steal hay bales, tractors, and other expensive farming equipment. Farm owners will be able to function normally and the agricultural industry will remain intact.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.