Dear Editor,
I applaud the latest attempts by Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke to curb praedial larceny. However, it appears that he is not up to speed with the latest evolution of this crime.
Criminals, particularly those operating in the Ebony Park and Rhymesbury areas of lower Clarendon, seem to be much more studied and selective in the ways that they continue to deprive farmers of their livelihood. These criminals, instead of spending long nights reaping fields of pepper, pumpkins and similar produce — which probably bring little or no return when sold at cut-rate prices — target the very expensive pieces of equipment that farmers need for agricultural production.
It is commonplace for farmers who do not reside on their properties to return to their farms and discover that, overnight, thieves have broken in and made off with the tools of their trade. The preferred items include brush cutters, chainsaws, water pumps, and the highly prized mist blower. Having secured the high-end items, the criminals do not stop there but pack and carry off hoes, forks, shoves, machetes, and agriculturaln chemicals.
While all of this is happening, fields of produce remain untouched. Marking of the items seem not to deter the thieves. Regarding security, the farmer may, as well, leave his storage container open as neither burglar bar nor iron grille stop the thieves who travel with effective cutting implements.
Unfortunately, many of the items stolen are of little use to people other than farmers (and whacker men), which makes the case that some dishonest farmers are themselves aiding and abetting this new form of praedial larceny. In the same way that the police are on the lookout for motor vehicles transporting livestock, they need to pay particular attention to vehicles transporting high-end agricultural equipment for which the drivers cannot give proper account.
Pepper Farmer
windianred@gmail.com
Praedial larceny in this day and age
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I applaud the latest attempts by Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke to curb praedial larceny. However, it appears that he is not up to speed with the latest evolution of this crime.
Criminals, particularly those operating in the Ebony Park and Rhymesbury areas of lower Clarendon, seem to be much more studied and selective in the ways that they continue to deprive farmers of their livelihood. These criminals, instead of spending long nights reaping fields of pepper, pumpkins and similar produce — which probably bring little or no return when sold at cut-rate prices — target the very expensive pieces of equipment that farmers need for agricultural production.
It is commonplace for farmers who do not reside on their properties to return to their farms and discover that, overnight, thieves have broken in and made off with the tools of their trade. The preferred items include brush cutters, chainsaws, water pumps, and the highly prized mist blower. Having secured the high-end items, the criminals do not stop there but pack and carry off hoes, forks, shoves, machetes, and agriculturaln chemicals.
While all of this is happening, fields of produce remain untouched. Marking of the items seem not to deter the thieves. Regarding security, the farmer may, as well, leave his storage container open as neither burglar bar nor iron grille stop the thieves who travel with effective cutting implements.
Unfortunately, many of the items stolen are of little use to people other than farmers (and whacker men), which makes the case that some dishonest farmers are themselves aiding and abetting this new form of praedial larceny. In the same way that the police are on the lookout for motor vehicles transporting livestock, they need to pay particular attention to vehicles transporting high-end agricultural equipment for which the drivers cannot give proper account.
Pepper Farmer
windianred@gmail.com
Praedial larceny in this day and age
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