Earlier this week, I went out on patrol with the Harborough area member of our Rural Policing Team. We visited the area around Mousley, Theddingworth, Husbands Bosworth, Fleckney and Kibworth. I learned how farms were targetted for the theft of diesel fuel, machinery and vehicles. I was shown how thieves will stash a stolen vehicle for a while in an isolated barn [we visited one, but there was nothing suspicious] to see if it is being tracked before they move it on to try to sell it. I was also told about metal theft - espcially copper - and how this is spirited away after dark.
It was, however, good to hear about how the Rural Policing Team were making a positive impact. More and more farm machinery is being recovered, and so are vehicles. Not only that, but the increased resources being put into the operation mean that suspects are being identified and arrests being made.
So while the problems of our rural dwellers are not entirely solved, we are moving in the right direction.
