Wiltshire urged to protect itself from rural crime
Wiltshire Police say its an under-reported offence
People living and working in rural area's of Wiltshire are being encouraged to report rural crime to the police.
There's concern in the force that it's being under-reported.
Wiltshire Police are carrying out Operation Ragwort, which focusses on tackling rural and heritage acquisitive crimes, alongside the four other south west forces in an effort to make the region 'hostile' for those committing crime.
Inspector Andrew Lemon of the Rural Crime Team (RCT) said: "We experience thefts of quad bikes, trailers, horse boxes, wildlife crime, poaching, hare coursing and hunting offences and that's primarily the areas that the team focus on."
He added that the reporting of such crimes is one of the biggest challenges the RCT face.
Insp. Lemon told Greatest Hits Radio that the force are looking at simplifying the reporting process for people and are taking advice from the National Rural Crime Unit as well as looking at methods used by other police organisations to achieve that.
He highlighted that at this time of the year, unlicensed waste carrying, waste disposal and fly tipping are 'quite prevalent'.
And while the majority of the enforcement power for those offences are with Wiltshire Council, the team are taking proactive action by making targeted patrols, stopping vehicles and checking permits.
And while their latest patrol found no offences, further patrols are planned.
Lock away equipment and vehicles
Insp. Lemon is urging farm owners and those living in rural areas to do everything they can to protect their property.
"Make sure their equipment is locked away, make it really difficult for them," he said, adding: "Don't leave keys in tractors and quad bikes and trailers.
Don't leave trailers unattended. We have a real problem with trailers and horse boxes being stolen."
He also said vehicles should be fitted with tracking tags, citing one incident in which they proved vital in the recovery of a stole quad bike.
"We had a quad bike stolen in North Wiltshire that was fitted with a tracker within a matter of hours, with the assistance of Thames Valley Police, they located that item and recovered it."