Farmers count cost of organised crime raids

Criminals broke through the doors of Peter Northern's barn to steal GPS kit from his tractors

A farmer has spoken of his frustration after organised criminals stole thousands of pounds worth of global positioning equipment (GPS) in a recent night-time raid.

"We went 35 years without a claim on this farm until about five years ago," said Peter Northern, who farms in north Hertfordshire.

Figures from insurers NFU Mutual reveal he is not alone, with rural crime up more than 8% in the East of England since 2022, costing an estimated £7.1m.

It said GPS unit claims were up 137%, with crime gangs raiding several farms in one night with "shopping lists", often revisiting farmyards weeks later to steal any replacements.

The high-tech kit is used to guide tractors and combine harvesters, improving accuracy and reducing fuel costs

Mr Northern had at least £10,000 worth of GPS taken when thieves smashed their way through his barn door, but he has also had a tractor and trailer stolen.

"When you claim on insurance, it goes up and it's getting very expensive," he said.

He has bolstered security on his farm, including creating a secure storage unit and putting in a full alarm system, alongside his existing CCTV and lighting.

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: "In recent years rural crime has changed in its nature - nowadays we are much more organised crime and determined levels of crime.

"We've seen thieves turn up for farms with shopping lists, looking for particular items to steal.

"Our latest research shows GPS kits were the hot ticket item of last year, due to their high value and portability."

'Brazenly staking out farms'

The high-tech equipment, typically costing £10,000 a unit, is used to guide tractors and combine harvesters - improving accuracy and reducing fuel use.

Mr Northern said: "Often in farming, like this year, we have a very short window [when the weather is favourable] to get onto the fields, as it can be raining the next day - so the thefts are just very frustrating."

Ms Binns said the raids affect more than food production, "it's also the emotional impact, it's the feeling you've been watched".

"We know that thieves are brazenly staking out farmyards... and they know what they want to steal and that's really unnerving when you consider these farmyards are also people's homes," she said.

Claims for dog attacks on livestock were up nearly 30%, while claims for theft of agricultural vehicles were down 9%, in the latest NFU Mutual figures

East of England claims

• Suffolk - Remained high, costing an estimated £1.1m in 2023

• Norfolk - Fell 59.1% from 2022, to an estimated £615,000 in 2023

• Buckinghamshire - Rose 37.8% from 2022, to an estimated £699,000 in 2023

• Bedfordshire - Rose 106.9% from 2022, to an estimated £669,000 in 2023

• Hertfordshire - Remained high, costing an estimated £1.1m in 2023

• Cambridgeshire - Fell 3.5% from 2022, to an estimated £2m in 2023

• Essex – Rose 82% from 2022, to an estimated £2.7m in 2023

• Northamptonshire - Rose 67% from 2022, to an estimated £849,000 in 2023

Source: NFU Mutual

Nationally, rural crime cost the UK an estimated £52.8m in 2023, up from £50.6m in 2022, according to NFU Mutual.

Quad bike and all-terrain vehicle thefts were up 9%, while farm animals killed or severely injured in dog attacks rose sharply to nearly 30%.

More positively, claims for agricultural vehicles fell by 9%, as NFU Mutual worked with the National Rural Crime Unit to share intelligence and catch criminals.