http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_4995186

Border agents warn farmers of equipment thefts (7:44 p.m.)
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
El Paso Times
Article Launched:01/11/2007 07:29:42 PM MST

Border Patrol agents stumbled upon a budding theft trend last week when they intercepted a stolen tractor trying to make it across the border into Mexico, authorities said.
The tractor was the second report in less than a year of a stolen tractor attempting to drive across the Rio Grande along the farming outskirts east of El Paso, said Lt. Mario Flores of the Texas Department of Public Safety Motor Vehicle Theft Service.

"I would call it a new trend as far as crossing it over the river. Before, they would just load it onto trailers and then they would wait to cross it," Flores said.

"We are trying to coordinate with Mexican authorities to close the net, if you will, on these items crossing into Mexico," Flores said.

On Jan. 3, state troopers reported a stolen tractor that was spotted near Fabens by Border Patrols agents assisted by National Guard troops.

"The guy tried, oddly enough, tried to elude authorities in the tractor and he didn't get far," Border Patrol spokesman Doug Mosier said. The tractor overturned trying to cross a dry canal and the thief, a Mexican citizen, was caught.

Flores said investigators have information there have been more stolen tractor crossings than the reported cases. Investigators suspect the large equipment is also used to pull vehicles stuck in the Rio Grande while attempting to cross drug shipments.

In one of case, a stolen tractor was worth an estimated $140,000, Flores said. "Just the mere value of that equipment, if they can get a fraction of that amount that is quite a large sum," he said.

An Internet search found tractor thefts reports in farming communities from California to the United Kingdom.