Farmers across Donegal have been warned to remove jackets and footwear from outbuildings and barns in a range of security measures against thieves.
Farmers are being encouraged to label machinery.
Gardai believe gangs are going to great lengths in a bid to steal machinery and other valuables from farms around the county.
One such ploy is to wear jackets and boots belonging to farmers so dogs do not pick up a strange scent from intruders.
The tips are a range being offered by Gardai in the New Year crackdown on crime in the farming community.
The overall piece of advice to farmers is to mark their machinery.
Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Paul Wallace said that very little machinery is taken once it has been marked.
“Once the machinery is marked it makes it difficult to move on for gangs. They prefer just to leave it we find.
“The machinery can be marked by a service offered by the IFA and we would encourage people in the farming community to have all machinery marked.
“We have found it a very good deterrent. Most machinery which is marked is not taken as they all have individual codes and it is difficult to remove it without making it obvious,” he said.