An English police department used a Deere tractor to help fight rural crime, particularly tractor theft.
An English crime-fighting machine whose expertise was helping bring perpetrators of rural offenses to justice will retire later this month, according to a published report.
Loaned to Lincolnshire Police by John Deere, a five-ton police tractor very successfully avenged injustice but could not help itself from grabbing attention at agricultural shows, farmers' markets and rural events throughout England.
"We have seen a significant increase in the number of local farmers joining Farm and Country Business Watch," said Phil Vickers, the department's chief inspector who kicked off the effort for the Deere machine. "The tractor has been so successful in promoting the use of security tagging and tracking devices that our colleagues in neighboring forces have borrowed it for their agricultural events."
The National Farmers' Union paid for the tractor to carry police colors and accoutrements, including a blue light. It originally sought to confront crimes in rural Lincolnshire, and it was particularly helpful during cold weather.
One of its high points was in September when the BBC featured it for a report probing tractor theft.
"We shall be very sorry to see it go," Vickers said.
