OWNERS of iconic Land Rovers Defenders are being urged to increase their security measures against organised criminal gangs.

The call to farmers and enthusiast owners comes from NFU Mutual and Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team, as criminals scour the countryside stealing the vehicles.

Rebecca Davidson, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “Land Rover Defenders continue to be a target for thieves, and every week across the UK farmers and enthusiast owners are waking up to find their precious Land Rovers gone or stripped of bonnets, doors and wings.

“There’s a burgeoning black market for parts, with many of these beloved classics getting dismantled in driveways and farmyards or whisked away to chop shops.”

In Cheshire repeated Land Rover Defender thefts are being tackled by a police initiative involving owners signing up to a scheme which invites police to stop their vehicles to check if it has been stolen.

“There are two types of Defender owners in Cheshire; farmers who still use them as a workhorse and enthusiasts who restore and treasure classic Landies,” said Cheshire Police Rural Team Sgt Rob Simpson.

“Both were disappearing from farmyards and driveways in alarming numbers. The scheme we have put in place is simple and very effective. We invite Defender owners to sign up to being stopped and checked out by our officers at any time of day or night on the roads.

“Members of the scheme display ‘Please Stop Me’ stickers on the Landy to warn criminals the vehicle can be stopped at any time by police. Everyone’s very pleased with the way it’s going.”

Defender thefts fell significantly in the scheme’s first few months, but are heading back towards pre-Covid levels.

Rebecca added: “We’re warning people in the countryside to be on high alert and welcome Cheshire Police’s Stop Me scheme. Trackers, alarms and storing vehicles out of sight have also been effective measures protecting these British icons.”

Land Rovers have become a prized classic vehicle owner’s choice as well as being used every day on farms.

Rebecca said: “With prices of Series I models soaring due to their vintage value, organised criminals are scouring farmyards and country properties for examples they can steal.”