Cost of rural crime up £9m, as gangs target farms

The cost of rural crime in the UK shot up by 22% over the past year as highly organised crime gangs continue to steal livestock, high-value farm machinery and expensive GPS equipment.

NFU Mutual’s latest Rural Crime Report (PDF) shows that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £49.5m in 2022, up from £40.5m the previous year.

Amid a background of soaring values and low supply of farm machinery, agricultural vehicle thefts were up 29% on the previous year, with high-tech GPS equipment thefts also increasing by 15% to £1.8m.

See also: New theft prevention Act intended to deter rural criminals

NFU Mutual said a further spate in GPS thefts in the first four months of 2023 has cast a worrying outlook, with the cost doubling to more than £500,000 compared with the same period last year.

lt says that a further sharp spate in GPS thefts in the first four months of this year cast a worrying outlook.

Meanwhile, in 2022, quad and ATV theft reported to NFU Mutual cost £3m nationally, a 34% rise on the previous year.

Similarly, livestock thefts also rose by 8.7%, totalling an estimated £2.7m.

Hannah Binns, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said the rural insurer was now witnessing internationally organised criminal activity in the countryside.

“These gangs target high-value farm machinery and GPS kits because they can be sold all over the world,” she said.

“Many items are stolen to order by thieves using online technology to identify where farm machinery is stored and scope out the best way to steal it. They will also spend hours watching the movement of farming families to work out the best time to attack.”

Responding to the report, NFU vice-president David Exwood said rural crime was having a significant impact on farm businesses and farming families both financially and emotionally, with “many rural communities left feeling vulnerable and intimidated”.

All this at a time when the industry is facing numerous other pressures, not least soaring production costs, he added.

Mr Exwood said farmers, policymakers and police forces needed to work together much more closely, at national and local level, to tackle rural crime.

He cited the National Rural Crime Unit is a great example of effective collaboration.

He said the NFU was pleased that the Equipment Theft Prevention Bill recently gain Royal Assent, which will give the home secretary wider powers to make regulations that will deter the theft and resale of quad bikes and ATVs.

“Fitting immobilisers and adding forensic markings will also ensure that owner details are registered to help make these essential farm vehicles less attractive for criminals to steal,” Mr Exwood added.