Report finds rural thieves in Dorset are becoming more sophisticated
A leading insurance company says it's having a huge impact on farmers
A insurer claims criminals are more sophisticated because of the pandemic.
The NFU Mutual rural crime report also found they are more connected than they were before the start of the pandemic.
Overall across the South West, livestock theft increased by over a third, despite a national reduction of 25%.
Kay Henderson, rural insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said: "It's still plaguing the countryside, particularly stealing more lighter, portable items like GPS systems.
"With quieter roads, the bigger thefts like tractor thefts, have been much harder. That's particularly a change in tactic that we've been seeing.
"We've seen more international-linked crime as well. We recover vehicles from as far afield as Poland and Lithuania.
"Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and more organised by the year."
Impact on farmers
We've been told the crime also has a huge impact on farmers, not only in terms of cost, but that some are "living in fear" that they're being watched by criminals.
Kay Henderson added: "We've got farmers unable to carry out their work because an essential piece of kit's been taken, so that stays out of their working lives.
"Families feel unsafe in their own homes, because they're used to this idea of being staked out and watched by criminals."
NFU Mutual estimates that rural theft cost the UK £43.3m in 2020, but the average cost per incident was £4,425, up from £4,128 in 2019.