Pat Cowman believes that identification can play a key role in reducing farm equipment theft.
Cowman’s Property Identification Program, which is part of Operation Hands Off, stores specific ID numbers for a variety of items, including agriculture equipment, on an online directory.
“What we do that’s different than other groups is we have a database that is available to a limited extension of the public,” he said.
However, it doesn’t give the public limitless access to information about who owns what.
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“You have to have a specific number,” Cowman said.
Police have more access to the information so that they can return stolen items, he said.
People who find an item with an identification number can use the database as a lost and found system.
“The warning decals on the items have a return-if-found option,” Cowman said. “Use your cell phone with an app to take a picture of the bar code and send a message to the owner to return the item.”
Cowman and his team act as co-ordinators to return items to their owners.
The program is available to farmers and business owners in Canada.
Cowman said the program is effective when used properly. However, he said it is difficult to say exactly how effective because the RCMP doesn’t keep annual statistics on farm equipment theft.
“The police tend to operate independently from private businesses,” he said.
SecurTek, a security monitoring company in Saskatchewan, reports that farm equipment theft has increased 25 percent based on industry statistics. Vandalism is part of this statistic.
Cowman, who is also president of MicroDot DNA, said thousands of customers in Saskatchewan use the firm’s farm product programs.
He works with a variety of companies, which send spreadsheets of their products to him. He then enters the products into a database with their manufacturer’s identification numbers.
“A big component of this program is a combination of doing the registration and getting warning signs up,” he said.
“That has the biggest impact to reduce theft.”
Awareness also plays a significant role.
“Most people don’t want to take a chance if there’s a potential risk of getting caught.”
Cowman said this type of program can pay off.
“We have done projects with police departments across the country, and we have seen a 70 to 80 percent re-duction of theft.”
