Cost of rural crime falls across Yorkshire but vehicles remain top targets for thieves
Offroad vehicles remain common targets for rural theft across the region
Last updated 16th Jun 2025
New figures reveal the cost of rural crime across the Yorkshire region fell last year to an estimated £4.4m, although quad bikes and all terrain vehicles have remained top targets for would-be thieves.
Insurer NFU Mutual's annual report shows farmers North and West Yorkshire suffered the largest financial losses as a result of rural crime in 2024, although costs have fallen significantly for those in the North of the county.
Areas in Humberside saw a rise in the cost of rural crime, as did West Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire saw a more than 30% fall in the cost of rural criminality last year.
Nationally offroad vehicles worth £2.7m were stolen last year, however NFU Mutual has hailed join work between the industry and law enforcement to crack down on this kind of theft.
£4.4m worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery was seized and recovered last year across the UK.
Hannah Binns, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “In recent years we’ve seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature, with thieves willing to pull out all the stops to get what they desire, and sadly we saw that trend continue in 2024.
“It's encouraging to see that Yorkshire and the Humber reflected the trend as the cost of rural crime across the UK dropped 16.5%, to £44.1m, as we continue to collaborate with industry and law enforcement to tackle this urgent issue. But that will come as no comfort to the rural community in Yorkshire and the Humber beset by criminals, and we know there is always work to be done when it comes to rural crime.
“Rural crime goes far beyond disrupting farm work and impacting food production. It has a real impact on the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families, causing severe stress and sleepless nights as the rural community lives in fear that those responsible might return.
“Co-ordinated efforts from insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police, industry and law makers are crucial in delivering a unified response to the rural crime challenge posed by organised criminals and opportunistic thieves – and we can see from our new report that this unified response can bear real dividends.
“United, we can confront rural crime with strength.”