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HomeFarming NewsPrison for male who stole €39k worth of tractor GPS systems
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Prison for male who stole €39k worth of tractor GPS systems

A judge has handed a 30-month prison sentence to a 25-year-old male who stole high-valued GPS navigation systems.

Mantas Dvareckas, with an address at Granville Road, Great Yarmouth, appeared before Chester Crown Court on Friday, March 18th, 2022.

The court heard that on October 10th to October 11th, 2021, four tractors equipped with GPS navigation systems, worth around £30,000, were targeted at a farming business in the south of Cheshire.

The court heard that three of the tractors had been forced into with the screen of the GPS system taken and the wires to the tablet cut.

Police attended the scene, and a forensic examination of the scene took place.

Following further tests, they found DNA on one of the door handles of the tractor.

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They matched this DNA to Dvareckas. Police subsequently arrested him and charged him with theft.

Detective Constable Andrew Street of Cheshire Constabulary’s Rural Crime Team said:

“During questioning, Dvareckas offered no explanation as to why his DNA was found at the scene.”

“He denied attending the premises – expecting his criminality to go undetected and unpunished.”

“However, thanks to forensics and dedicated team of officers, we have been able to bring him before the courts.”

“The conviction and sentencing of Dvareckas to two-and-a-half years demonstrates the determination of the police and the CPS to bring him to justice.”

Street said this crime has a “huge” impact on rural and farming communities. He said it not only affects livelihoods but also hinders subsequent work at farms.

“These people target GPS equipment to sell it on. We would urge that anyone who is looking at buying this equipment to take photographs of serial numbers and check with the manufacturer that it is not recorded as stolen,” Street concluded.

Other court news: Landowner fined

A 60-year-old landowner has appeared before court concerning the unauthorised gravel removal from a river.

Eamon Duffy, Drumsill Park, Armagh, was in Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse, on March 7th, 2022.

Read more on this.

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