The number of reported incidents of 'theft of farm equipment' has been in decline since 2023.

According to data from An Garda Síochána, there were 132 of these reported incidents in 2025, down from 214 in 2024 and 228 in 2023.

The statistics were revealed by Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Niall Collins in response to a parliamentary question from Louth TD Paula Butterly.

Minister Collins said the government is "committed to building stronger, safer communities across the country".

"Rural crime covers a range of issues that cause concern for people living in rural communities, ranging from burglary and theft, to animal crime and road traffic offences," he said.

"An Garda Síochána are committed to tackling all crime, including crime that occurs in our rural communities.

"Rural safety and community safety is not about policing alone of course – it requires a multi-agency, multi-sectoral and a whole-of-government response."

Rural Safety Plan

Minister Collins said the Rural Safety Plan 2025-2027 "brings together and strengthens" all of the various strands of work being carried out in relation to rural safety.

It has been developed by his department, in conjunction with the National Rural Safety Forum.

"The plan’s vision is to ensure people and communities in rural Ireland feel safe and are safe in their homes, places of work, and their local environments," the minister explained.

"It does this by identifying four key priority areas that we will focus on to achieve the overall goal."

These areas are: community safety and engagement; property crime; roads policing; and animal and wildlife crime.

"A number of Garda operations are already supporting the plan, such as Operations Thor and Táirige, which tackle burglaries and thefts from homes, and retail crime respectively," Minister Collins said.

"‘Lock Up Light Up’ is An Garda Síochána's anti-burglary awareness campaign which encourages homeowners to protect their property from would-be criminals.

"In the 10 years since Operation Thor was introduced, burglary and related offences have significantly declined."

According to the minister of state, similar to burglary-related data, the below figures demonstrate a "significant decline" in theft of farming equipment incidents: