Farm GPS thefts on the rise, John Deere devices targeted

Satellite guidance systems mounted on farm machinery have become a target for thieves in Switzerland too. The cantonal police forces of Vaud, Bern, Thurgau and Solothurn have recorded a rise in thefts of these devices, each of which can fetch between 10’000 and 30’000 francs once stolen.

The most striking case is the canton of Vaud. According to SonntagsBlick, 20 thefts have already been counted in 2026, compared with an annual average of two to six cases between 2021 and 2025. In the canton of Bern, the incidents of the past two months have been concentrated in the Seeland region.

In Thurgau, five thefts have been recorded this year, the first ever in the canton, with total damage amounting to several hundred thousand francs. In June, unknown perpetrators broke into four John Deere tractors in the canton of Solothurn: there too, the damage runs to several hundred thousand francs.

The thieves target devices of the John Deere brand exclusively, as they are easy to remove and in high demand on the black market. Investigators believe these are not opportunistic thieves but specialised groups with technical skills and well-oiled logistics.

A European phenomenon

The Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) confirms that thefts of this kind have been rising across the continent since 2023 and is working with Europol on the issue. France is the worst-affected country, followed by Germany and Great Britain. The French gendarmerie has dealt heavy blows to organised gangs, among whose members people of Romanian and Lithuanian nationality have been identified.

The signals from stolen devices often lead to Eastern Europe, where the units are believed to be reconditioned and resold. The Swiss authorities are urging farmers to step up surveillance of their machinery and to report any suspicious activity without delay.