DAY 73: Man arrested during warrant in South Oxfordshire

A 25 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of producing a controlled drug, theft and using electricity without authority.

Last Wednesday (29/1), Thames Valley Police and PANIU (Plant and Agriculture National Intelligence Unit) officers attended a yard in the Dry Sandford area of Abingdon.

Upon gaining entry, a large breeze block building was discovered and found to contain a large cannabis factory with approximately 40 full grown suspected cannabis plants along with cultivation equipment.

At the rear of the yard, several large shipping containers containing numerous power tools, a quad bike, compressors, lathes and cutting equipment which are suspected to be stolen.

These items have been seized and ongoing enquiries are being made by the investigating officers.

A tractor which is also believed to have been stolen was also recovered from the site. The tractor is believed to have been stolen on the 8 October 2013 from Chesham in Buckinghamshire.

Also discovered were three Ifor Williams trailers believed to have been stolen from the Metropolitan area back in 1999 and an Atlas Copco Compressor believed to have been stolen from Sussex in 2012.

The man who is from Dry Sandford in Abingdon has been released on bail until the 11 March.

DAY 70: Plant and agricultural machinery thefts within the Thames Valley continue to fall say PANIU

The latest Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) report has listed the Thames Valley area in equal eighth place (out of ten) in a list showing the levels of plant and agricultural machinery thefts, whereby first place is the force with the highest level and tenth is the force with the lowest level of plant thefts.

The report shows that the Thames Valley area has seen a gradual drop in offences since October 2012 until September 2013.

This is a great achievement for Thames Valley Police as traditionally, the South East region is subject to one of the highest levels of plant and agricultural thefts. The figures for the Thames Valley are particularly good considering the size of the rural area the Force covers when compared to other forces which cover much less.

The rest of the PANIU report can be found on the Datatag website.

Earlier last year, Thames Valley Police received an award from Datatag in recognition of its commitment to proactive policing to combat construction and agricultural equipment thefts and have continued the effort into this year.

Thames Valley Police security marked over 300 agricultural machines last year with the Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) security system.

Thames Valley Police continue to offer a discount on Datatag’s CESAR kits to residents living in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The benefits of getting your equipment registered with CESAR include:

• Easily identifiable machinery 
•  Swift identification should your machinery get stolen
• Swift return of stolen machinery to the rightful owner
• CESAR security symbol on the machinery will deter thieves

The standard price for the CESAR kit is £149 plus VAT. The Thames Valley Police discount allows residents to have the kit installed for £88 plus VAT.

Find out more about the CESAR scheme on the official website.

To take advantage of this offer, call the Datatag booking line 01784 778 310 and mention Thames Valley Police.