Police are warning farmers to “remain vigilant” after two men were charged following alleged thefts of multiple high value agricultural GPS units from across the north of England.

The men both appeared at Preston Crown Court on Tuesday, August 20, Lancashire Police said.

Aidas Cinga, 27, of no fixed abode has been charged with conspiring to steal from a motor vehicle.

Damantas Skeltys, 28, of no fixed abode has been charged with the same offence.

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Both men have been remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday, September 16.

This was a multi force operation involving officers from Lancashire, Cheshire, North Yorkshire, Humberside, and the National Rural Crime Unit. 

Supt Andy Huddleston from the National Rural Crime Unit and National Policing Lead for Theft of Construction and Agricultural Theft said: “This was a collaborative effort between a number of forces to tackle what is International Organised Crime targeting UK farms, and we’re also working with our law enforcement colleagues in France and Germany.

“We would ask farmers to remain vigilant and are grateful to the NFU Mutual who have assisted greatly in not just this investigation but also the wider tackling of GPS thefts across the UK.”