Farmers deliberately targeted by thieves, claims Cllr Conway

Councillor Thomas Conway says farming equipment and machinery including quads, tractors and four-wheel-drives have been targeted in a spate of burglaries across the area. The Derry city councillor has now called for more police resources to made available in the area. He said: "In my own area tractors, quads, Land Rovers and other four-wheel-drives have disappeared from farms. The thieves break into the farmhouses but they are mainly interested in getting hold of keys to vehicles or machinery."

"I have spoken to the PSNI about getting some extra resources to combat this type of crime, which is very different from more opportunistic burglaries and thefts. People in the countryside should certainly do all they can to guard or immobilise vehicles and keep keys out of the way, but we are up against a professional and resourceful gang."

Councillor Conway continued: "This gang will only be put out of business by good police intelligence and good detective work down the line when they try to dispose of the goods. We ourselves are the main source of police intelligence, particularly at the point where the thieves are reconnoitring likely targets. It has been said before but it needs saying again: unannounced visits to farms, by people on spurious business errands or possibly asking odd directions to odd places, is a danger sign. So take a note of their vehicle, compare notes with neighbours and if you think there is something going on, call the police."