Turkey theft on the rise

Turkey theft is on the increase and producers are being advised to invest in proper security equipment to protect their stock.

According to an investigation on last weekend’s BBC Countryfile programme, the turkey sector is being targeted due to the ease of access to many units and the high value of the birds.

Presenter John Craven visited two producers which have been targeted by thieves, including Ian Johnson, who keeps rare breeds and turkeys in Devon.

Last month he lost 67 turkeys in one night and, over the past five years, he has been subject to over 20 separate raids. He said he had lost over 1000 birds worth about £18,000. “It’s very annoying, very upsetting and very stressful,” he said.

Insurance was either not available or too expensive, so he had had to resort to setting up a “poultry patrol” with local friends to keep an eye on things at night.

Ole Gronning, who keeps 8000 free-range turkeys on his farm, had gone for a more sophisticated approach. His fields were criss-crossed by infra-red beams and any intruders would set off a silent alarm on his mobile phone. “We want to catch these people, not scare them away so that they can have another try another day,” he told the programme.

Devon and Cornwall Police investigator Chris Dobbs urged poultry producers to look at their security arrangements. “If they are deployed in strategic places and attached to silent alarms, it gives us a chance to get to the scene,” he said.

Trading standards officer Steph Young told Countryfile that consumers who were tempted to buy turkeys for Christmas on the black market were exposing themsleves to possible health risks, as the birds may not have had the proper withdrawal periods from various medications.