Thousands of bushels of grain stolen from bins on rural Sask. property: RCMP

Coronach RCMP are investigating grain theft from a rural property near Ogema, Sask., about 100 kilometres south of Regina.

Around 5,000 bushels of grain were stolen from bulk storage bins, according to a news release sent Thursday morning.

RCMP say the bins were unattended at the time and that the theft may have occurred any time between spring 2024 and April 2025.

No suspects have been identified and the investigation is ongoing.

Police say large-scale grain thefts are uncommon, but can go unnoticed for long periods of time on rural properties that are not monitored daily.

Saskatchewan RCMP are encouraging producers to take measures to protect stored grain and other property:

• Mixing grain confetti into storage grain. Each piece is marked with a unique ID number that is linked to the grain's owner, which helps identify it if stolen.
• Keeping grain bins in areas that can be frequently monitored or in well-lit areas not easily visible from public roads.
• Turning off electric unloading systems at the end of the day to prevent unauthorized use.
• Installing security cameras, alarms or infrared-capable surveillance systems where coverage is available.
• Installing motion sensor lighting.
• Keeping updated inventory of stored grain, livestock and equipment.
• Restricting access to grain storage sites.
• Securing bins and equipment with tamper-resistant locks and regularly inspecting them to ensure they haven't been tampered with.

Anyone with information about the grain theft is asked to contact RCMP or Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers.