Alberta RCMP are warning farmers and rural property owners about an increase in thefts of fuel and equipment left unattended during harvest season. Mounties say valuable materials in remote areas can be especially vulnerable because those locations are harder to monitor.

In a Tuesday news release, police said, “These areas can be more difficult to monitor and may present additional opportunities for theft,” and added, “Taking a few simple precautions can help deter thieves and make suspicious activity easier to identify.”

RCMP said farmers and rural property owners can take steps to protect themselves, although the supplied release text does not specify those precautions. Police asked all property owners to report theft incidents as soon as possible, saying prompt reporting can help investigations.

Based on reporting by CTV News Calgary.