Cost of rural theft on farmers in Wiltshire and Hampshire revealed
A leading insurance company says criminals are becoming more sophisticated
The cost of rural theft on farmers in Wiltshire and Hampshire has been revealed, as an insurer claims criminals are more sophisticated because of the pandemic.
In Wiltshire, rural crimes cost farmers £865,000 in 2020, according to NFU Mutual's rural crime report.
However, Hampshire was highlighted as one of the hardest-hit counties, at £1,240,104. That's the ninth-highest in the country.
Overall across the South West, livestock theft increased by over a third, despite a national reduction of 25%.
Criminals "smarter" than before the pandemic
There's growing concern that criminals are more sophisticated and connected than they were before the start of the pandemic.
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.