Two Romanian nationals aged 33 and 27 and from Dagenham have been charged with conspiracy to steal high-value agricultural GPS systems following a Kent Police operation.
The pair remain in custody ahead of their appearance at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday 14 September 2026. The charges follow an investigation by Kent Police’s Rural Task Force into a series of thefts across Canterbury, Folkestone, Romney Marsh, Maidstone, Sheppey, and Thanet during July and August 2026, involving equipment valued at over £170,000.
Officers made the arrests after pursuing a vehicle of interest through the Dartford Tunnel into Essex in the early hours of Sunday 16 August 2026. A search of the vehicle yielded multiple stolen GPS units, whilst a subsequent raid at a Dagenham property uncovered further equipment and led to the arrest of two other men, aged 21 and 30, who have since been released on bail pending further enquiries. Investigations into linked offences outside the county remain ongoing.
Police Sergeant Ross Haybourne emphasised that rural crime remains a year-round priority, noting that thefts often surge during the autumn harvest season. He urged farmers to remove GPS systems from vehicles when not in use, store machinery in locked locations, and mark equipment with serial numbers.
NFU Kent Representative Alan Clifton-Holt welcomed the arrests, highlighting that organised farm crime creates severe financial and emotional strain, and praised the positive result as a key step in deterring rural offenders.