IT never rains but it pours. That's certainly how it has felt in forestry recently where stories of crime are becoming an all too common occurrence. 

In the last week alone, we've published several. What's noticeable is just how varied the incidents have been. 

One saw the theft of forestry machinery worth around £120,000 – including a Keto 150 HD harvester head an Indeco IMH8 forestry mulcher – from a site in Dorset. Arrests of two men – including one from the very north of Scotland – were made but both had since been released, pending further investigation. 

Another sees police probing what was called the "methodical" destruction of tree shelters at a Scottish site. Nearly 1,000 shelters – planted in memory of Bob Glen's late brother Duncan – had been damaged, with Bob at a loss to explain why anyone would do such a thing. 

Forestry Journal: Bob Glen was at a loss to explain the destruction of his tree shelters Bob Glen was at a loss to explain the destruction of his tree shelters (Image: Supplied)

At a similar loss is Neil Campbell, whose Mitsubishi L200 Warrior pick up was stolen from a forestry site in Stirlingshire, less than half a mile away from where the forwarder operator was working at the time on Tuesday. 

These are just three stories we have come across in just the last month. Given the number of incidents which are either not reported to the police or fail to make it into the press, you can safely assume we're only just seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to forestry's crime concerns. 

Hoping to help you avoid going through similar pain, our most recent edition of the magazine took a look at the options available to make your sites and equipment more secure. Cameras, tags, and security fencing are among the products featured in our buyer's guide. 

READ MORE: Rural crime: Site security solutions for the forestry industry

As stories like this become all too common – almost to the point where they barely register – it doesn't appear this is an issue that is going to go away anytime soon. 

Take care out there. 

This piece is an extract from this week's Forestry Features newsletter, which is emailed out at 4PM every Wednesday with a round-up of the week's top stories. 

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