Have any information on the theft of machinery or require advice?

January June 2018

Have any information on the theft of machinery or require advice? Did you know... èè The Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit is a specialist Police Unit PANIU OFFICER CHECKING EQUIPMENT èè We offer support and advice to help you identify any type of plant or agricultural machinery èè We maintain the most accurate police database of all stolen machines throughout the UK èè We record all national theft data and have access to the PNC and the majority of plant insurers and manufacturers loss data SCANNING OF CESAR MARKED MACHINERY èè We offer advice, intelligence and statistical information regarding organised criminal networks working in your area èè We provide training and advice to officers around identification and investigative techniques You can contact PANIU during office hours by calling 0207 230 7290 Liaison Officer Telephone: 07786 114343 or email paniu@met.police.uk PANIU IS STAFFED BY POLICE OFFICERS THERE TO HELP YOU!

Introduction // PANIU Introduction Forward by Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney I currently have the privilege of leading the Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU). I joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1993 as a Constable and worked in West London in a wide variety of roles before being promoted. I have served on the Organised Crime Command for many years, where I acquired significant operational experience and knowledge of conducting complex and major crime investigations. I am committed to working in partnership at a national level to reduce crime by channeling influence and sharing best practice with others in order to achieve this. Caroline Clooney Detective Inspector Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) Organised Vehicle Crime Unit Metropolitan Police Service PANIU are grateful for all the support and donations provided by industry specifically AXA, AVIVA, ALLIANZ, RSA, ZURICH, Northern Marine Underwriters (NMU), NFU MUTUAL, MUNICH (HSB Engineering), QBE, GAP, A PLANT, CANTRACK, The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and HAE in addition to the support provided by Clancy Docwra, Datatag, Enigma telematics & Tracker Networks (UK) Ltd. This continued support has been instrumental in ensuring that PANIU continues to be able to deliver at a time when police services across the country are undergoing significant restructuring. PANIU remain fully committed to working with you all in the year ahead and our continued partnership working to solve and reduce crime. PANIU would not be possible without the assistance and funding from our donors: T: +44 (0) 207 230 7290 (office hours) E: paniu@met.pnn.police.uk Copyright 2017 This document is joint copyright of the Crown and the Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). The control of the Crown copyright in this work has been delegated to the MOPAC by the Controller of HMSO and therefore this work may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of MOPAC. Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime and Crown copyright, Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018. 2018 // JANUARY JUNE 03

PANIU // Introduction Update From the PANIU Liaison Officer A bit about me... I am Amanda Cousins and have been a front line Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police for the past 14 years. I began my Police career on the beat in Soho, Westminster. In 2007 I moved to Notting Hill where I remained until 2013 as a front line response officer, during this time I trained as an autocrime examiner. I then moved back to Westminster where I worked in Counter terrorism and the foreign national offender unit. I had a work life before the Police too, where amongst other roles I have been in managerial roles and was a national trainer for a large retail chain. Growing up in a farming community I can relate to the impact that agricultural theft can have on businesses. I look forward to meeting more of you on my travels in the coming months. PANIU diary Since beginning my new role as PANIU National Liaison Officer on 8th May 2018 I haven t stopped! During this time I have met many people from industry and Police colleagues around the UK, among other events I have delivered Plant and Agricultural training to Officers from across South Yorkshire and I was delighted to be invited and attend the Rural Crime conference in Harrogate. Take a look at these twitter #s to see what went on #RuralAffairSummit #RuralCrime PC Amanda Cousins, PANIU Liaison Officer, SC07 Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit Phone: 020 7230 7720 Mobile: 07786 114 343 E-mail: Amanda.P.Cousins@met.police.uk The Metropolitan Police Service FALCON (Fraud and Linked Crime ONline) Launching five new Little Guide animations to raise awareness and promote behaviour change around some common fraud types. ĥĥ Friday 14th September -Money Mules ĥĥ Friday 21st Sept - Payment Fraud ĥ ĥ ĥ ĥ Friday 28th Sept - Computer Software Service Fraud ĥ Friday 5th Oct Romance/Dating Fraud ĥ Friday 12th Oct - Online Shopping Fraud Payment Fraud (sometimes known as Mandate Fraud or CEO Fraud) occurs when criminals contact a victim, either via email, phone call or letter. They pretend to be an existing client, business, or even an employee of the company. They then ask for a new payment to be made, or an existing direct debit mandate to be changed, with the new details going to them. In 2017, over 1,500 instances of Payment Fraud occurred, totalling 51m (an average of 33k per offence). www.met.police.uk/fraud Animations will be launched via MPS Twitter feed (@metpoliceuk) 04 2018 // JANUARY JUNE

Statistics // PANIU Statistics Breakdown of figures between January June 2018 The attached charts show theft data collated by PANIU from 1st January 2018 to the 1st June 2018. The most noticeable increase during this period is ride on mower theft, generators and utility trucks however the good news is that telehandlers have shown a significant decrease, along with a decrease in rollers, tractors and mini excavators. Top 4 Manufacturers Stolen July 2016 June 2018 CESAR Update The latest CESAR figures 2795 CESAR marked items reported stolen. 578 CESAR marked items recovered. 21% recovery rate. Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime and Crown copyright, Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018. 2018 // JANUARY JUNE 05

PANIU // Statistics Top 10 Manufacturers Stolen: January June 2018 MANUFACTURER Rank January June 2018 Total 1 KUBOTA 132 2 JCB 122 3 THWAITES 104 4 JOHN DEERE 73 5 BENFORD/ TEREX 63 6 TAKEUCHI 63 7 BOMAG 37 8 LEICA 34 9 HITACHI 31 10 MASSEY FERGUSON 27 OTHERS 570 TOTAL 1256 Theft by Plant Type: July 2016 June 2018 Theft by Police Force: July 2016 June 2018 06 2018 // JANUARY JUNE

Statistics // PANIU PLANT TYPE Rank January June 2018 Total 1 MINI EXCAVATORS 295 2 DUMPERS 192 3 ATTACHMENTS 107 4 TRACTORS 96 5 UTILITY TRUCKS 77 6 GENERATORS 74 7 ROLLERS 73 8 TELEHANDLERS 53 9 SURVEY EQUIPMENT 45 10 RIDE ON MOWERS 43 OTHERS 201 TOTAL 1256 POLICE FORCE Rank January June 2018 Total 1 METROPOLITAN POLICE 105 2 THAMES VALLEY 83 3 GREATER MANCHESTER 80 4 ESSEX 75 5 KENT 74 6 WEST YORKSHIRE 62 7 WEST MIDLANDS 62 8 HAMPSHIRE 57 9 SCOTLAND 52 10 SURREY 51 OTHERS 555 TOTAL 1256 Theft by Regional Cluster: July 2016 June 2018 REGIONAL CLUSTER Rank January June 2018 Total 1 SOUTH EAST 451 2 YORKSHIRE & NE 170 3 MIDLANDS 140 4 SOUTH WEST 136 5 EAST MIDS & ANGLIA 127 6 NORTH WEST 125 7 SCOTLAND 52 8 WALES 32 9 PSNI 15 10 BTP & MOD 8 TOTAL 1256 25 % ROLLER THEFT DECREASED 26 % ATTACHMENTS THEFT INCREASED 30 % GENERATOR THEFT INCREASED 33 % TELEHANDLER THEFT DECREASED Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime and Crown copyright, Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018. 2018 // JANUARY JUNE 07

PANIU // Jobs PANIU Jobs Operation Merseyside This case relates to an investigation conducted by the Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) into the organised theft and handling of approximately 130 items of plant machinery stolen from across the UK between 2012 and 2016. The Organised Crime Group (OCG) have used various companies to sell the items of stolen plant across the UK. The value of transactions since 2012 is approximately 1.4 Million pounds. Therefore, the suspects were all under investigation for money laundering, and handling stolen goods. PANIU team were made aware of the OCG activity in December 2015, and we then started to build an intelligence picture of the OCG, and their activities. PANIU along with other colleagues and other constabularies completed multiple search warrants throughout 2016 in various locations throughout the UK resulting seizure of stolen items of plant machinery and multiple criminal exhibits. Suspects were arrested and questioned and charges of Conspire to conceal/ disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property, handling stolen goods were authorised by CPS. Five suspects now await outcome of court proceedings. This is a great example of PANIU disrupting organised crime groups, and placing suspects before the courts. Operation Badger Operation Badger was an investigation into the selling of cloned Thwaites dumpers on ebay between May and December 2016. PANIU identified the buyers and visited them in order to examine the dumpers. All were cloned, several with the same VIN number. The machines had all been stolen from the Home Counties. The suspect was arrested and has now been charged with money laundering. Surveying equipment PANIU has been made aware of a large increase in surveying equipment thefts across the country. PANIU are working with colleagues to raise this as an emerging crime trend issue and are looking at crime prevention opportunities. Operation Hexagon PANIU received Intelligence to indicate that stolen survey equipment was being stolen in the UK and advertised for sale on auction sites in another country. Together with colleagues in Europe, PANIU worked fast time to carry out warrants in both countries and successfully arrested 2 suspects and recovered more than 30 items of stolen equipment. 08 2018 // JANUARY JUNE

Around the country // PANIU Around the country Cumbria Police Cumbria Police Officers seized a Volvo EC25 after they were contacted by the potential buyer who had suspicions about the machine. Officers checked the machine to discover that all ID markers had been removed but with some joined up working between Cumbria, PANIU and Volvo, officers were able to identify the vehicle which was stolen in 2007 in East Anglia. Nice team work! Norfolk Police On 18th July 2018 Norfolk officers attached to Operation Moonshot made an arrest in Kings Lynn following the recovery of a digger and two trailers stolen from Lincolnshire. A tracker signal lead officers to the location of the digger where they also discovered two stolen trailers. The investigation is still on-going. Hampshire Police Hampshire officers were called to this incident by a member of the public who had been awoken by a large bang. When they looked out of their window they saw a large digger on the forecourt of the petrol station. Officers quickly arrived to find the machine surrounded by rubble and discovered that it had been used to rip the ATM machine out of the wall. Officers retraced the tracks made by the digger to a nearby building site and with the assistance of PANIU the rightful owners were contacted and the machine was identified. Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime and Crown copyright, Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018. 2018 // JANUARY JUNE 09

PANIU // Across the water Across the water Police Service Northern Ireland This Dumper was discovered under a tarpaulin, in the back garden of an individual known to Police. Once recovered, a trained officer carried out a full examination and was amused to find the attempts to remove the CESAR plates. The criminal had simply painted over them! The main RFID chip responded and gave the machine identity through a check with Datatag, the machine had been driven off a building site a week prior. Finally, the reflective plates fitted after the appalling paint job gave the manufacturer/distributor name who kept impeccable records of sale and tied the suspect to the theft. Republic of Ireland In July 2018, Garda Officers found a cloned John Deere 6220 with all original ID marks removed. With some investigation and PANIU liaison, officers discovered the tractor had been stolen from a Donkey sanctuary in Devon in 2017. PANIU liaised with Devon and Cornwall Police who were able to assist Officers with the original theft report and loser details. A number of large lorry trailers were also discovered believed stolen, this part of the investigation is still ongoing. Combined Industries Theft Solutions (CITS) workshops PANIU continue to work in collaboration with industry and are supporting with the Metropolitan Police Decisions and Disruptions Table Top Exercise which is designed to explore the decisions that people make, in order to protect their businesses from modern day threats, such as hacking and malware attacks, in addition to physical security and crime prevention. 10 2018 // JANUARY JUNE

Recoveries // PANIU Partner Recoveries CanTrack recover stolen plant and find additional missing equipment that leads to arrest! A call was received regarding multiple thefts from the Bedford area. A Kubota excavator and trailer had been stolen from a remote pumping station over the weekend. The tracker was placed on standby and within 24 hours the unit woke up and gave an updated location some 30 miles away. The Cantrack team arrived at a highly secure private rural location, the team couldn t see the excavator but their system confirmed it to still be at the location. PANIU were contacted and with PANIU s assistance, liaised with Essex Police who quickly attended. Entry was gained to a locked barn that revealed the stolen items plus additional stolen assets, including a fuel bowser and one arrest was made by police. Cantrack and Warwickshire Police Compressor recovery A customer in the Midlands reported a compressor stolen overnight from the Nuneaton area the unit was put into theft mode and when the CanTrack asset tracker went onto the network later that day it gave a location just a couple of miles away. The Cantrack team member was on scene within 90 minutes with Officers from Warwickshire Police. The stolen machinery was located on the driveway of a private property hidden between two vehicles. The Police made enquiries at the property, one person was arrested and a number of other stolen items were recovered. Datatag recover Manitou being auctioned in Brisbane During a business trip in Australia Datatag s Nick Mayell was asked for assistance to identify a Manitou. Using the CESAR markings on the Manitou, Nick was able to quickly identify the piece of machinery as being stolen from the UK 9 months prior. This recovery goes to demonstrate just how far the criminals will go to dispose of stolen goods. Two machines Recovered by Automatrics and Greater Manchester Police On Thursday 24th May Automatrics were contacted by a customer advising of two entirely separate machine thefts. One was a Bomag 80 roller from Stockton-on-Tees and the other was a Thwaites 1 tonne dumper from Altrincham. The GPS was showing the dumper to be in South Manchester. The police were informed and met with the customer at the reported GPS location. The dumper was found on a private driveway on a flatbed lorry. Police seized the truck, made one arrest and the customer had the dumper back in their yard just 3 hours after it was reported stolen. The GPS was showing the Bomag roller just 3 miles from the theft site. It remained there for a number of hours whilst plans that were being put in place to recover it, however plans swiftly changed when it left the location. The GPS stopped in a small industrial yard a few miles to the East of Hartlepool. Police searched the site and recovered the roller arresting two males. Mayor s Office for Policing and Crime and Crown copyright, Metropolitan Police Service, September 2018. 2018 // JANUARY JUNE 11

PANIU // 12 2018 // JANUARY JUNE

PANIU would not be possible without the assistance and funding from our donors: PANIU is a specialist police unit dedicated to reducing plant and agricultural theft in association with: