Tractor Crime Does Not Add Up

“DIAMONDS ? Gold? Old hat! Tractors are the thief’s holy grail,” says the Times.

Hundreds of tractors are being stolen in an extraordinary crimewave that is worth £3 million a year and affects most counties in rural Britain. It is being investigated by police forces nationwide, working with the National Plant and Equipment Register in Operation Mermaid.

It’s a big problem:

They are particular about their pickings, and have a penchant for the distinctive green and yellow tractors of the John Deere brand. John Deere tractors usually cost between £63,700 and £75,000, and even second-hand models can be sold for up to £50,000. Some top-of-the-range tractors cost more than £100,000.

As Tim notes: “Taking that second hand value £3 million a year is 60 a year. So that ‘hundreds’ looks like a tad of hyperbole, don’t you think?

Anorak

Posted: 21st, January 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Money Comments (3) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink