Rural crime costs up 56% in county, say insurers

Rural crime can make farmers and communities feel less safe, said insurers

The cost of rural crime in Gloucestershire has seen a sharp increase, with criminal operations which target isolated areas becoming more organised, said insurers.

A report by NFU Mutual suggests rural crime in the county cost £1.3m in 2023, up 56.1% from 2022.

Andrew Chalk from NFU Mutual said the countryside was targeted by criminals because it "is isolated and unfortunately, it’s also full of expensive equipment".

However, the total claims for agricultural vehicle thefts reported to the insurance firm fell by 9%, to an estimated £10.7m in 2023.

Livestock theft

But insurers found the total cost of rural crime across the UK rose to more than £50m with the cost of Global Positioning System (GPS) units thefts rising by 137% to £4.2m.

Mr Chalk said the units were "essential to modern farming" and favoured by thieves as they were "are small, highly portable, and can fetch around £10,000 a pop or more".

"Agricultural vehicles like quad bikes are highly portable, very valuable," Mr Chalk added.

"And also things like livestock. It’s an old crime, it’s been going on for millennia, but it’s still a very real and pressing problem for farmers."

It is recommended farmers install CCTV cameras, security lighting and immobilisers

NFU Mutual said its shares its data with police officers via the National Rural Crime Unit to help fight the problem.

The rural insurer said the collaboration saw the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the unit, seize £3.1m worth of stolen vehicles and machinery in 2023.

One thing we do know is that rural crime is becoming more organised," Mr Chalk said.

"What we’re seeing is criminal gangs are targeting farms and rural communities and taking away lots and lots of high value equipment in one raid so when there’s a few of these raids, it can push figures up a lot."

Mr Chalk said rural crime does not just do financial damage, but has wide-reaching effects on communities and health.

"It disrupts those who produce our food and it also makes them feel less safe in their homes," he said.

"The financial cost can be recovered through insurance, for example, but the feeling that your place of work and also your home is being staked out by organised criminal gangs is going to have a massive toll on your mental health."

Mr Chalk said things farmers can do to fortify their property included locking gates, installing CCTV cameras, and banding together with their communities such as through rural watch schemes and WhatsApp groups.