Buckinghamshire residents warned against winter rise in rural crime

Buckinghamshire residents are being asked to share worries with local authorities.

NFU Mutual are warning residents in rural areas of Buckinghamshire of an expected rise in rural crime as the nights get longer.

Although the clocks going back tonight will allow for some more day time, within a few weeks that change wont be noticeable.

Which the criminals will use to their advantage according to Rebecca Davidson, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual:

"Criminals will always look for opportunities to strike. What we do find though is the longer hours of darkness, the fact that not so many people will be out and the lack of lighting in the countryside can make it a particularly vulnerable time of year.

"We estimate rural crime costs Buckinghamshire nearly £870,000 last year. One of the big drivers behind these costs is organised gangs targeting big machinery and livestock.

"What we are doing is warning people about security and with the clocks going back it is a great time to look around your rural home and farm and see what measures could prevent criminals from targeting you."

A checklist has been created by the group to help protect people from becoming victims of rural crime, which includes:

• Close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieves
• Check existing lighting, alarms and cameras are working correctly and update if necessary
• Store portable tools such as chain saws, jet washers and welders in a secure locked ‘cage’
• Use trackers, immobilisers and CESAR-mark tractors and ATVs to deter thieves
• Consider infra-red beam alarms, CCTV and floodlighting to protect farm yards

Rebecca says one of the most important things people in rural areas can do is talk to one another though:

"What I would say is really join forces with your community, local farmers and local police.

"We find when people do share information of sightings, however insignificant it may seem, it can held build up a much bigger picture and pattern."

To hear NFU Mutual’s Winter Rural Crime podcast, available from Friday 23 October, please visit smarturl.it/aheadofthefield

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