NFU Mutual urge rural communities to review security as clocks go back
Rural crime totalled ÂŁ43.3 million last year
As the clocks go back, NFU Mutual are urging those living rurally to review their security and look out for thieves.
The rural insurance firm fear gangs could use the autumnal and winter conditions to target goods in short supply like diesel, heating oil and fertiliser.
Rebecca Davidson, is the firms Rural Affairs Specialist:
"Thieves will strike at any time of year. But what we do find is that they do like to work under the cover of darkness. With the longer nights and the inclement weather as well, the stormy and blustery conditions, it provides a good opportunity for them to operate".
She admitted that the pandemic has seen thieves change their approach:
"We found over the pandemic that they like to target high-value and smaller items, like GPS systems. Also, in pre-pandemic levels we found that the last quarter of the year, the cost of rural theft has come up. We're very concerned that we could return to those pre-pandemic levels, as there are few restrictions and people move more freely".
Ms Davidson says this type of crime can cause a range of damage:
"We estimate that the cost of rural theft is about 43 million pounds a year. But behind those figures is huge anxiety, because you're living in quite isolated areas and farms are not just businesses, they are people's homes. You may have a lot of families living on site and it can make you feel very vulnerable".
She concluded by running through questions those in countryside should be asking themselves now:
"Is it easy to get onto the property? Have you left lots of expensive items on display? If you're a farmer, do you have a quad-bike left out? If you are another rural-dweller, do you have garden machinery or expensive push bikes on display?
Maybe some of those items that you've been using more regularly over the summer need to be stored really securely and out of sight".