Farmers across East urged to keep lights on overnight to deter thieves
NFU Mutual fear rising costs and longer dark nights could trigger a 'winter crime epidemic'
Farmers across the East are being urged to keep lights on overnight to deter thieves, who want to take advantage of the longer darker nights.
The warning comes from NFU Mutual who fear that some owners may be tempted to cut back, as energy prices continue to soar.
With the clocks going back and energy bills continuing to soar, the insurance group fear the combination could trigger a 'winter crime epidemic', with thieves looking to pray on businesses who have had to cut back.
"It makes us a bit more nervous"
Patrick farms in the East and has been a victim of rural crime five times.
He told us about the precautions they're now taking:
"We have lights up around the yard, and beam across the yard that set off an alarm when broken. Everything has to be locked up every night, tractors put away in the sheds and locked away. We also have gated barriers and this all means that it takes us 15 minutes to lock-up and un-lock everything at the start and end of each day".
"The nights are darker sooner and for longer. It makes us a bit more nervous, to keep an eye on everything we have CCTV, trackers on all the tractors, everywhere lit up- we've done everything we can do. But you do still feel like you are an easy target and a lot can go on during the night without you knowing about it, unless you are there all the time".
"It's something that we have to do"
He went on to say that it's worth taking the short-term hit:
"It's still going to cost us several hundred pounds a year to put the lights on. But it's something that we have to do, it's a case of making your business unattractive to would be thieves, and unfortunately moving them onto somewhere else".
"All the lights that we have are now LED lights, but they cost a considerable amount to run. One school of thought was we will put less lights on during the winter to save a bit of money. But I think that's a false economy because if we do that, we will invite more people on the farm for the sake of saving a bit".
"Strong security measures do deter thieves"
Rebecca Davidson, NFU Mutual Rural Affairs Specialist said:
“Pre-Covid, NFU Mutual would see farm theft costs increase in the last three months of the year when dark nights and bad weather provided cover for criminals to get on to farms unseen.
“This year we’re very concerned that rising inflation and the energy crisis could be the catalyst for an epidemic of crime in the countryside.
“We’re continuing to provide financial support for prevention initiatives because we know crime is a huge worry for farmers and their families.
“Knowing that criminals are watching farms like hawks to spot opportunities to steal causes high levels of anxiety and makes it difficult for farming families to live a normal life.
“Strong security measures do deter thieves but need regularly updating to remain effective as thieves are adept at finding ways to defeat them.
“As the clocks go back it’s a good time to look at your farm from the perspective of a would-be thief and take action to put new measures in place if you spot weaknesses.
“Because every farm is different, each one needs a different approach, often combining physical security on gates and doors, electronic devices such as alarms, lights, immobilisers and trackers, and practical steps such as hiding valuable kit out of sight.
Local farm watch groups and WhatsApp networks are also very useful to keep up to date with local crime trends.”