 | Home > Stolen > Land Rover Defender thieves strike in Devon and Cornwall |
 
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018   
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"Land Rover's decision to end production of its iconic Defender could have sparked a wave of rural crime, new figures suggest.
Thefts of the vehicles spiked in Devon and Cornwall last year as figures showed a rise in rural offences such as rustling. Experts said scrapping the Defender, also a favourite of the Queen, had pushed up prices of the vehicle. Figures from Devon and Cornwall police showed that thefts of four-by-four Defenders, considered the farmers’ stalwart, rose six-fold in 2014." Mike Harding, whose buys, sells and repairs the iconic four-wheel-drive vehicles in Bovey Tracey, said costs were creeping up on the second-hand market. “They have gone up at least £500 and will probably rise more when they go out of production,” he told the Western Morning News. “It’s the people's vehicle, a bit like the VW or the Mini and we have seen an upsurge in repairs and restoration – they are also easy to dismantle and sell in bits. “Unfortunately, the dear old farmers never lock anything, which is probably half the reason. But you do see them in London now, with snazzy wheels and bling – it has become the vehicle to be seen in.” Just three of the off-road workhorses were taken each year in 2012 and 2013, but this rose to 18 last year, according to date released under Freedom of Information Act. No-one was arrested in connection with the thefts but officers recovered ten of the 24 Land Rovers taken over the three years. Devon and Cornwall police also recorded more than 100 incidents of theft of heating oil from farms and businesses in 2014 compared to just 20 from homes. Thefts of livestock were also up last year with 42 offences recorded by the force, up by 16% on 2013 and 21% on 2012, figures released under Freedom of Information laws showed. Mr Harding said Land Rover was making a big mistake in axing the Defender, which has been in production for 67 years and has a cult following. “They are stopping because it is too expensive to make and doesn’t meet all the crush tests,” he added. “It’s great if you are inside but not so good if one hits you.” Inspector Paul Morgan, from the neighbourhood policing team, said tackling rural crime required a different approach than urban areas. “Whilst crime remains low, we understand the impact that crimes such as theft of livestock, plant machinery or heating oil can have on both rural communities and businesses, which is why rural policing is a priority at all levels within the force,” he added. The Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said "specific areas of acquisitive crime" are not necessarily representative of the wider picture of crime in rural areas. “Ongoing cuts to policing continue to threaten the police ability to prevent crime and tackle criminals,” his office added in a statement. “Our partners are similarly affected and it is possible that this combination is impacting particularly on rural areas.” http://www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Land-R...story.html |
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13th Jun 2015 8:24am |
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