CRIME gangs are stealing GPS trackers from Cheshire farms for use in the Ukraine-Russia war.

The GPS systems, which are usually found in tractors and combine harvesters, can be reconfigured to help guide weaponry on the battlefield.

Insurance claims on the trackers, each worth a whopping £20,000, have risen 137 per cent in Cheshire since the conflict began in February 2022.

Gangs are reportedly able to hit multiple farms in a single night, and often return to the same site to steal replaced devices.

The loss of these trackers has led to delays in carrying out essential work and forced farmers to revert to older techniques, impacting their ability to maximise small windows of favourable weather.

NFU Cheshire county president Stuart Yarwood said: “Farmers across Cheshire are feeling the devastating impact of GPS thefts on our livelihoods.

“The theft of essential equipment not only disrupts the work we do, but also poses significant financial challenges.”

Both Warrington's Members of Parliament, Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner Dan Price, and the county’s three other MPs have signed a letter to urge the Government to take action.

The letter called for manufacturers to add forensic marking on GPS devices, farm transport and machinery to stop the rising number of theft cases.

PCC Price said: “Rural communities can often feel that their voices are not heard, but I want to make it clear to rural communities in Cheshire that I see you and hear you.

“I am confident that by carrying on this good work and starting the ball rolling to make change happen here in Cheshire, we can reduce crime, ensure our ongoing food supply and protect the livelihoods of rural communities, not only locally but across the UK.”