Tackling the growing issue of rural crime

Rural crime is an issue that affects large areas of the UK with Hampshire, Kent and Essex ranked amongst the top 10 worst affected counties.

According to the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2022, rural theft is estimated to have cost the UK £40.5m in 2021 and it continues to be a major concern for members of the rural community.

What is rural crime?

The term ‘rural crime’ covers many different things but incidents are described by the police as broadly falling into four main categories:

1. Agricultural – crime impacting working farms and small holdings
2. Equine – crime impacting stables and equine centres
3. Wildlife – crimes that impact wildlife, such as poaching
4. Heritage – crime which impacts heritage assets, such as churches and monuments.

Illegal waste dumping, fly tipping, and polluting both watercourses and land, can all also be classed as rural crimes.

Some examples of rural crime include the theft of farm vehicles, equipment and livestock, stealing metal cabling or metal from roofs, and the draining of oil tanks.

What items are commonly targeted in incidents of rural crime?

The impact of crime can be devastating for those working in agriculture and other land-based sectors, with not only machinery theft and the loss of property and assets having an impact, but also resultant disruption to services and essential seasonal works.

Here are some of the items most commonly taken by criminals targeting agricultural businesses:

Quad bikes and ATVs

Quads and ATVs are often seen as a quick win by criminals due to the fact they are highly portable. With shipping delays and the lasting effects of Covid and Brexit all contributing to rising demand, the market for both new and second-hand machines is booming.

Land Rover Defenders

The highly prized and recognised Land Rover brand remains a top target, with vehicles and their parts being of value on the second-hand market.

Agricultural vehicles

Organised criminal gangs are also targeting farms for high value vehicles, such as tractors, GPS systems and trailers. With supply chain issues again affecting the sector, making demand high.

Oil and fuel

The theft of heating oil, diesel and other fuel is on the rise and remains a top concern for those in rural communities. With fuel prices rocketing, the first half of 2022 saw both the cost and frequency of fuel thefts more than double compared to the same period last year.

Livestock

Livestock theft, also referred to as rustling, cost UK farmers an estimated £2.4m in 2021 and it remains one of the costliest thefts for the farm industry. Soaring food prices helping make the crime even more lucrative.

Solar farms

Over the last decade, there has been a huge increase in the number of farmers and landowners leasing, or using, an area of their land for the creation of a solar farm. These types of sites are often targeted by criminals for the many valuable parts and materials they contain, including the panels, investors and cabling, and also due to their typically remote location.

10 top tips for reducing the risk of rural crime

Here are some crime prevention tips for those living and working in rural communities that could help reduce crime in rural areas:

1. Be vigilant.

It’s up to those working, living, and enjoying leisure time in our rural towns and villages to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. What kind of activity should you look out for? Anyone taking photographs of entrances or farm equipment, ‘scoping out’ a location, trespassing onto private property or showing an interest in fuels or chemicals stored on-site.

2. Report it.

If you see something strange, don’t go home and ponder over whether you should act on it – call 101 immediately or 999 if a crime is actually underway. It is a huge help if you have any details such as registration numbers and physical descriptions for the police to go on, but NEVER endanger yourself by trying to take pictures of potential criminals or by trying to gain more information about what’s taking place.

3. Join a Country Watch or Farm Watch scheme.

These types of schemes can help everyone in the area keep their properties safe. Find out more here about the Country Watch and Farm Watch schemes already established in Surrey, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

4. Stay secure.

Ensure that all windows and locks are maintained and fully functional and regularly checked. Fit good quality British Standard deadlocks to all external doors on your house and ensure a quality fitting of double glazed windows (also lockable). When it comes to outbuildings, barns and workshops, pay close attention to keeping doors and padlocks in good repair – don’t give criminals easy access! There is a wide range of security accessories available, including metal bars for windows and locking bars for doors.

5. Put the right security measures in place.

Fitting security lighting, monitored alarms and CCTV can all be a great investment to deter criminals. If you work with a team like ours, here at Venture Security, our mobile response team can be on site quickly, in the case of an alarm activation. They are equipped to deal with any situation which may arise. It’s also worth investing in lighting timer switches, or a smart lighting system like Philips Hue lights, for your home if the property is vacant, to give the impression that activity is taking place in the house.

6. Take care with potentially dangerous goods or chemicals.

Store fertilisers and fuel in a securely locked compound and if you do have any firearms on site, it is vital that these are kept according to the regulations. For more information, contact your local police.

7. Keep things tidy.

Farms can be prone to becoming dumping grounds, giving thieves easy access and also providing cover for any crimes taking place. Do not leave hazardous waste, scrap metal or machinery lying about – keep it secure or get rid of it.

8. Protect high-value goods.

At Venture, we always advise clients with expensive equipment, vehicles or machinery to invest in a tagging system (such as SelectaDNA) to ensure traceability. It’s also worth keeping a file with details of each piece of equipment you own. For smaller items, such as horse tack which will also be attractive to thieves, make sure they are marked, well concealed and securely locked away when not in use.

9. Secure any keys.

Don’t leave them in your vehicles – place them in a safe when not in use. Consider using hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors to further decrease the chance of your vehicles being stolen. Do not leave keys within direct line of sight from doors and windows and use a faraday box for keyless entry keys, such as for high-value vehicles.

10. Check boundaries are secure.

Ensure your fencing and gates are secure, block off any unused access points and plant hedging, dig ditches and consider installing a keypad entry system to keep all areas of your property safe. Display security signage to warn potential thieves that they won’t find an easy ride on your premises!

Expert advice for your business

Here at Venture Security, tackling rural crimes is something we know a lot about. For more than 15 years, we have been providing trusted security services for farms, businesses and private residences in rural settings. This includes carrying out routine security patrols and having rapid response teams linked to CCTV and alarm systems.

For anyone who is concerned about security for their rural business or estate, we’d be happy to offer our expert advice on what to consider, along with measures that can be put in place to lower the risk. For more details, call us on 01264 391538 or email office@venturesec.co.uk

You may also be interested in:

• A guide to security for solar farms
• Businesses warned to stay alert over rise in oil thefts
• The problem of commercial metal theft
• The use of drones in security