Kaleb Cooper Speaks Out After £7,000 Farm Tool Theft: “What Is Going On With England?”
Clarkson’s Farm Star Hit by Costly Rural Crime
Kaleb Cooper, the breakout star of Clarkson’s Farm, has become the latest victim of rural crime after thieves stole a £7,000 farm tool from a site in Buckinghamshire earlier this week.
The 27-year-old farmer, known for his no-nonsense approach and quick wit on the hit Amazon Prime series, revealed that his Protech P200S post knocker — a heavy-duty hydraulic device used to drive fence posts into the ground — was stolen overnight on Tuesday in Gerrards Cross.
“What Is Going On With England?”
Sharing the news with his 2 million Instagram followers, Kaleb expressed his frustration and disbelief at the theft.
“My post knocker was stolen last night. As well as the John Deere tractor,” he wrote.
“Can we please make this as hot as possible! What is going on with England at the moment!”
The stolen equipment had reportedly been loaned to a local fencing company when the robbery occurred.
Adding to the chaos, a burnt-out 4×4 vehicle was discovered nearby shortly after the theft — believed to have been used by the culprits in the getaway.
£70,000 Tractor Also Taken in the Raid
The stolen post knocker wasn’t the only loss that night.
The Home & Country Fencing company, which had borrowed the equipment, confirmed that their £70,000 John Deere tractor was also taken in the same incident.
In a post shared to their social media page, the company wrote:
“Unfortunately, we have had one of our tractors and post knockers stolen overnight.
There has been a silver 4×4 burnt out just down the road, which is possibly related.”
A Vital Piece of Farming Equipment
Kaleb’s stolen machine is far from just a simple tool — it’s an essential part of everyday farming work. The Protech P200S post knocker uses a 240kg hydraulic hammer to drive fence posts into tough ground — equipment that significantly reduces manual labor and time.
The tool was originally purchased by Jeremy Clarkson for their Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington, Oxfordshire, and famously featured on Clarkson’s Farm. Clarkson once described it as one of his “maddest” and “most terrifying” pieces of machinery.
In his column for The Sunday Times, Clarkson previously wrote:
“Until these hydraulic post-knockers came along, you had to use a manual one, nicknamed a ‘man killer’.
There’s nothing that wears you out more than manually knocking in a fence post — particularly around here where the ground is 90 per cent stone.”
He jokingly added:
“It could be used in Gangs of Chipping Norton. This really would break you in half. But we got all the fences done — not terribly well, but we did a pretty good job.”
Farm Theft on the Rise Across the UK
The theft highlights a growing crisis in rural crime, which has surged dramatically over the past decade.
Organized gangs targeting farms — often using quad bikes and pickup trucks — have become increasingly bold, stealing high-value machinery, GPS units, and livestock.
According to figures from NFU Mutual, rural thefts cost the UK economy over £50 million each year.
In 2024 alone, thefts involving farm vehicles and GPS systems amounted to more than £7 million in losses.
The insurance group warned that professional thieves are increasingly targeting farms with little or no on-site security, often reselling stolen machinery abroad or stripping it for parts.
Fans Rally Behind Kaleb
Following his post, fans flooded Kaleb’s social media with messages of sympathy and outrage.
Many shared his frustration, calling for stronger protections for rural businesses and harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
One fan wrote:
“This is absolutely disgusting. Honest hardworking farmers are being targeted while nothing seems to be done about it.”
Another commented:
“Can’t believe this keeps happening — no one’s safe anymore. Hope you get it back soon, Kaleb!”
Police Investigation Underway
Thames Valley Police confirmed they are investigating the theft, although no arrests have been made at this time.
A spokesperson said the incident was being treated as part of a series of targeted rural equipment thefts in the area.
Kaleb’s representatives have also been contacted for comment but have not yet issued a public statement beyond his social media post.
A Growing Problem for Farmers
The theft of valuable farming machinery is more than just a financial loss — it directly impacts operations, delaying essential work and raising costs at a time when the agricultural sector is already under pressure from rising fuel, energy, and supply prices.
For Kaleb, who’s spent years advocating for young farmers and rural communities, the theft represents more than missing equipment — it’s a symbol of a wider issue affecting farms across Britain.
As he put it simply, and with characteristic honesty:
“What is going on with England at the moment?”
