Practical guidelines to prevent stock theft

Laurence Palmer, a security consultant, lists some practical advice that farmers can follow to prevent stock theft.

- Laurence Palmer

In this article, I make recommendations on how to prevent and/or stop stock theft on a farm in South Africa, but these may apply to other farms in rural areas in Africa. The recommendations are generic and can be applied on any farm or property. While they may seem straightforward, many farmers only employ some of these strategies, to their own detriment.

PERIMETER

An effective perimeter barrier is your first line of defence. A physical barrier should be strong enough to serve as a deterrent, or at least make it very difficult for the intruder to penetrate it. To establish your perimeter, define the perimeter of your property (fields or paddocks). Secure the perimeter in the most effective way, taking your budget and topography into account.

The perimeter can be supported by electronic beams, CCTV and other electronic alarm and detection methods. Modern wireless systems and extended effective detection distances make this more possible than before.

Your farm gates are your most vulnerable element. Make sure that they are secure and match the security level of the rest of the perimeter. Install sets of vacuum gates to enhance your own security when moving through these.

Barriers must be inspected at least every 12 hours to ensure that there are no breaches. Be aware of cuts made and camouflaged with grass or shrubs for later unhindered access. To inspect your barriers properly, make sure that all perimeter fencing is clear of long grass and shrubs for at least 3m on each side of the barrier. Where possible, create smallstock pens where stock can be kept overnight and protected from unauthorised access.