A report from NFU Mutual claims that criminals are "systematically" targeting rural areas. It says there has been a 67 per cent increase in "agri-crime" over the last two years in Scotland, and this is estimated to have cost Scottish farmers around £1.4 million last year.
Just under two-thirds of the insurer’s branches across the UK had reported an increase in rural crime and the company said there is "little sign" of it abating.
The Rural Crime Survey shows that tools, quad bikes and heating oil were the items most likely to be stolen. Farms and outbuildings were the most common targets, but goods had also been stolen from garden sheds and garages. When asked why thieves targeted the countryside, the main reasons given were the difficulty in policing such sparsely populated areas and the fact that the thieves thought there was less chance of their being seen, especially as most of the thefts took place between midnight and 6am.
“Be vigilant and keep working with police and local communities to help fight rural crime," said Robin Gawn, NFU Mutual senior agent in Perth, in his advice to people living and working in rural areas.
"Highly organised thieves don't just target tractors, Land Rovers and farm machinery. They can also make money from items like quad bikes and power tools that can be stolen and sold on in the blink of an eye.
“It's all about taking small steps to make life much harder for rural criminals. Making outbuildings more secure is an effective deterrent and, unless they are marked and identifiable, many farm and household items can be difficult to trace but very simple for criminals to sell. Taking the time to mark your more valuable items will make it much easier to trace the criminal and return your property should it ever get stolen.”
Across the UK last year, agricultural thefts cost almost £50 million, with thieves tending to target tractors, scrap metal and livestock. The theft of livestock has prompted some landowners to take expensive action, such as the apparent installation of CCTV systems on the Dundonnell estate in the north-west Highlands.
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