Quad-Bikes And Livestock 'Most Likely Items To Be Stolen In Rural Areas'

All-terrain vehicles such as quad-bikes, tools and livestock were among the items most likely to be stolen in rural areas during the last 12 months, according to a survey.

The overall cost of rural crime in Scotland in 2014 was £1.8 million - down from the previous year's figure of £1.9m.

NFU Mutual's Rural Crime Survey showed the UK-wide cost of rural crime totalled around £37.8m last year - a 15% reduction.

Across the insurance company's branches, 63% of those surveyed said that cybercrime is a growing problem for rural communities while recent data showed thieves are also targeting solar panels.

Martin Malone, NFU Mutual manager for Scotland, said: That there's been an overall decline in the cost of rural crime over the last 12 months is welcome news and reflects the huge efforts being made by communities and others to tackle this problem.''

He said initiatives aimed at reducing livestock theft and installing tracking for agricultural vehicles were having a real impact''.

While today's survey contains some good news, it also highlights the need for rural communities to remain vigilant and put security at the forefront of their minds,'' he added.