New scheme aims to put the brakes on trailer theft across Wiltshire

A £10,000 investment from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) is being used to fund around 280 trailer marking kits for farmers, landowners and rural businesses across Wiltshire.

The funding was put into action earlier this week when trailer owners attended a marking session at Southern Counties Auctioneers in Salisbury, where Wiltshire Police officers applied forensic security markings designed to deter theft and help establish ownership if trailers are recovered.

The initiative comes as rural communities continue to face the theft of agricultural equipment and machinery, offences that can leave businesses facing significant disruption and financial loss.

The marking kits create a unique identity for each trailer through a combination of visible and covert security features. These include tamper-evident identification plates, warning labels and forensic markers that can assist police in linking recovered trailers to their rightful owners and make them more difficult for criminals to sell on.

The Salisbury event is part of a series of marking sessions planned across Wiltshire, with further opportunities for trailer owners to take part during 2027.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said:

"Wiltshire's rural communities make a huge contribution to our county and deserve to feel confident that everything possible is being done to protect their livelihoods from crime.

"My office has funded around 280 trailer marking kits through a £10,000 investment, giving trailer owners access to a practical measure that can help safeguard valuable equipment.

"The consequences of theft extend far beyond the value of the property itself. For many victims, losing a trailer can disrupt day-to-day operations and create considerable uncertainty.

"By making trailers easier to identify, this scheme provides reassurance to owners and supports wider efforts to deter offending and disrupt criminal activity in our rural communities.

"I am pleased that this week's event in Salisbury was so well supported and look forward to seeing further sessions take place across Wiltshire next year."

Officers from Wiltshire Police attended the event to carry out the markings and provide crime prevention advice for farmers and rural businesses.

Rural crime coordinator Emily Thomas said:

“I would certainly say we’ve had a lot of positive responses from doing this today.  

“By getting your trailers marked, it gives that extra layer of security. It makes it more identifiable so if the police found your trailer, they could look at the sticker markings and they could look to trace the owner.

“If we can just make it harder for thieves to move these items on, then that’s a positive.”

The programme forms part of ongoing work between the OPCC, Wiltshire Police and rural partners to reduce opportunities for crime and strengthen support for communities across the county.

Published Thursday 22 October 2026