Stop Me stickers help protect rural communities

Our rural community are not an easy target.

As Rural Crime Action Week comes to an end, we’re shining a light on a new Durham initiative which helps to prevent rural theft.

We know theft is a big concern across the agricultural sector with farmers in particular suffering the most if their machinery or vehicles are stolen.

Across a six-month period last year, we saw more than 70 theft and burglary crimes reported from our rural community. Within these, quadbikes and trailers were the most common target.

To combat this, officers took inspiration from our colleagues in Northumbria and designed Stop Me stickers – reflective stickers that can be attached to a farmer’s vehicles and machinery.

These stickers call for the item they are attached to be stopped by patrolling officers if seen out on the roads between 10pm and 5am – the most common time that criminals will try to steal these valuable assets.

Their bright orange colour can also catch the attention of members of the public and our Rurali members who can then feed back intelligence into our WhatsApp groups so they can be stopped.

A total of 2,000 stickers have been funded by Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, Joy Allen.

Along with permanent marker pens, the stickers are being distributed during this year’s agricultural shows and events within the farming community.