An Ely auctioneer is strengthening its ties within the industry to ensure it does not inadvertently deal in stolen goods.

Ely Standard: TER Manager, John Deverell CBE,TER Manager, John Deverell CBE, (Image: Archant)

Cheffins, which hosts the world’s largest monthly tractor, machinery and plant sale, says it carries out scrupulous checks to ensure the firm does not deal in stolen goods.

To strengthen these checks, the firm is working closely with The Equipment Register (TER).

Paul Claydon, director of Cheffins machinery sales, said: “We have always run extensive security checks on any items which we sell through our auctions at Cheffins and only offer machinery from reputable vendors.

“However, by teaming up with TER, we can offer our purchasers another level of confidence that anything they buy through us is security cleared and has been checked both through the HPI and the police database of stolen equipment”.

In 2016, nearly 3,000 stolen items of plant were reported by PANIU, the Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit.

Carrying out proper due diligence is essential to safeguard buyers, sellers and owners against criminal activity.

TER is now present at Cheffins auctions, checking all lots against its database, substantially reducing the chance of a sale of stolen goods. TER’s database is the largest in the United Kingdom for plant and equipment theft, with an average success rate of 1 in 11 searches resulting in a match.

John Deverell of TER, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Cheffins and hope that our collaboration will encourage due diligence in the industry”.

Cheffins say its second hand machinery sales continue to thrive with sales up on average by 40 per cent month-on-month compared to last year.