Rural crime in the South West rose £700K in 2022
Across the UK, an additional £9 million worth of offences were committed
The cost of rural crime in the South West went up by 16% in 2022.
An NFU Mutual survey found the cost across the UK rose by £9 million last year, with an increase of £700,000 in the South West.
Organised Crime Gangs have been stealing farming machinery and GPS kits worth thousands of pounds, before selling them in the UK and abroad.
According to the insurance company, thieves are scouting out where the equipment is kept using drones and using social media to find out what kit farmers are using and when they might not be at home.
Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual’s rural affairs specialist said rural theft is changing:
“It is not only opportunist thieves travelling a few miles, we are now seeing internationally organised criminal activity.
“They will also spend hours watching the movement of farming families to work out the best time to attack.
"Loss of vital machinery and GPS equipment causes huge disruption to farmers who are already stretched to the limit and replacing kit in the current economic situation can take months, adding additional stress."
Data provided by the insurers showed that the total cost of rural crime in the South West was £5 million, up from 2021’s £4.3 million.
It’s thought that rising prices and a lessening supply of farming machinery are behind the increases.