Farmers hit by big increase in thefts of equipment

Thefts of farming machinery cost the UK's farming industry 42.5m last year – an increase of more than 12m on the previous year – after a 5.5 per cent increase in instances of tractors and other farm vehicles being stolen.

The rise in thefts is being driven by a new black market trade in tractors being effectively "stolen to order", often for immediate export from channel ports to destinations in Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Rises have also been seen in the amount of horse tack and tools being stolen, with the high prices for scrap metal thought to be another contributor to the increase.

The figures were revealed in research from National Farmers' Union insurance wing, NFU Mutual, which showed more than 70 per cent of its branches reporting a increase on crime compared with last year.

Of these, 71 per cent believed the crimes were being pre-planned – with farmers being advised to be on their guard and form local neighbourhood watch services. The majority of thefts are thought to be committed by people from outside the area of the theft.

Opportunistic thieves are also targeting farmers and gardeners when they return to the house for lunch, searching unlocked tool workshops and sheds for chain saws, hedge-trimmers and other expensive power tools.

In Yorkshire the theft of vehicles remains very acute, with seven or eight vehicles being taken from outside an auction market in the region in one afternoon.

Chris Clement, an NFU agent operating out of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, told the Yorkshire Post: "Rural businesses are often seen as easier to work with by criminals. Nobody is around and there is less risk of being spotted.

"Unfortunately in times of recession you do find increases in claims being made by people over the thefts. The increase in scrap metal prices has even seen things like gates being taken by people going round in vans."

The NFU study also showed that 18 per cent of NFU Mutual agents believe a greater police presence would help reduce rural crime rates, with only nine per cent believing a membership of a "watch" scheme will help reduce crime.

The survey also identified a number of emerging trends, demonstrating the changing nature of rural crime – and gave names to some of the top tactics used by thieves.

Horse yards have been seeing increases in crime too, with valuable equipment being stolen and sold on at a fraction of their true cost at car boot sales and online. The cost of these thefts often run into five figures.

A spokeswoman said: "When thieves break into large yards they will strip the place of tack, rugs, grooming equipment – even wheelbarrows and transporting their haul is also easy as they will often steal a horse trailer in which to carry their loot.

"Horse trailers are also stolen and sold on in other areas of the country as they can be difficult to identify and one horse lorry was stolen from a garage forecourt whilst the owner was inside paying for fuel."