Farmers across East Cambridgeshire have been given stickers that say "Stop Me Now" to crack down on theft.

The stickers are bright yellow and have the words: "Police Stop Me if you see me between 10pm and 5am".

The idea is that if police officers see farm equipment out and about between 10pm-5am, they can check to make sure that it's being driven by the rightful owner.

This is because farm equipment is often targeted by criminals, who sell it or use it to commit other crimes, like ATM raids.

The stickers are part of a joint initiative between Cambridgeshire Police and the East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership.

Ely Standard: Jo Johnson Andow, Community Safety and Projects Support Officer for East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership and Police Sargent Tom Nuttall, from the force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT).Jo Johnson Andow, Community Safety and Projects Support Officer for East Cambridgeshire Community Safety Partnership and Police Sargent Tom Nuttall, from the force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT). (Image: East Cambridgeshire District Council)

They were funded by the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

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Police Sargent Tom Nuttall, from the force’s Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) said: “We use different tactics to try and disrupt and prevent agricultural crimes – this being one of them.

"We know these stickers won’t necessarily stop a theft, but they will make owners, criminals, the public and police officers more aware of agricultural equipment theft."