Criminals are systematically targeting Britain’s farms, the leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has said, with a 17% rise in ‘agri-crime’ over the last two years.
The Rural Crime Survey puts the cost to UK agriculture at £49.7 million in 2010. Almost two-thirds (62%) of Mutual branches have reported an increase in rural crime in their area.
The survey is based on the claims experience of branches across towns and villages. Unlike some other crime reports, the Mutual’s includes claims for crimes against homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles.
When asked about the main reason thieves target the countryside, 41% of branches said the fact it was such a sparse area made it difficult to police, with 32% claiming there was less chance of thieves being seen. And 23% thought relaxed attitudes towards security could also be a factor.
While thieves in the past have focused on targeting farms and businesses during broad daylight to steal expensive tractors, heating oil, scrap metal and livestock, the survey shows an emergence of some new trends.
Two-thirds of Mutual branches believe the most common time of day for thieves to act is during the night (midnight – 6am). Some 59% also reported that thefts from farms or outbuildings was the biggest problem in their area, while 12% said garden sheds and garages have proven tempting for thieves.
The survey also highlighted an increased demand for high priced items that are portable and easy to sell on. The theft of power tools such as chainsaws, electric drills and lawnmowers has topped the most stolen items list, although the Mutual’s Crime Map shows there are different priorities across the country.
Chief Executive Lindsay Sinclair said: “ Whether it’s the recession, tighter security in towns, or the rise in oil, meat and scrap metal prices countryside people are feeling the blight of rural crime on their land.
“However, country people are not taking this scourge lying down. Across the country new rural security initiatives are springing up involving rural communities and insurers such as NFU Mutual.
“We’ve already seen that by working with the police forces and manufacturers, tractor theft and organised rural crime can be tackled head-on. A united front against crime in the countryside will help to protect communities from being targeted further with vigilance as the watchword.”
Ten Most Stolen
Tools and power tools- Quad bikes
- Oil/Diesel
- Tractors
- Metal
- Machinery
- Trailers
- Vehicles (including Land Rovers)
Personal items - Livestock
What goes where - regional breakdown
Cumbria: 1) Quadbikes 2) Livestock 3) Oil/Diesel
Derbyshire: 1) Quadbikes 2) Land Rovers and other vehicles 3) Tools
East Anglia: 1) Oil/Diesel 2) Tools 3) Quadbikes
East Midlands: 1) Tools 2) Tractors 3) Oil/Diesel
Gloucestershire: 1) Quadbikes 2) Tractors 3) Tools
Hampshire: 1) Tools 2) Tractors 3) Farm Machinery
Herefordshire: 1) Tools 2) Oil/Diesel 3) Quadbikes
Home Counties 1) Tools 2) Oil/Diesel 3) Quadbikes
Lancashire: 1) Tools 2) Oil/Diesel 3) Quadbikes
Lincolnshire: 1) Oil/Diesel 2) Tools 3) Tractors
North East: 1) Quadbikes 2) Oil/Diesel 3) Tools
North West: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Oil/Diesel
Shropshire: 1) Tools 2) Oi1l/Diesel 3) Tractors
South West: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Oil/Diesel
West Midlands: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Tractors
Wiltshire: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Tractors
Yorkshire: 1) Tools 2) Tractors 3) Quadbikes
Wales: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Oil/Diesel
North Wales: 1) Quadbikes 2) Tools 3) Oil/Diesel
South Wales: 1) Tools 2) Quadbikes 3) Oil/Diesel
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