Rural crime cost UK farms £50m in 2010
Posted: 11/08/2011
Criminals are systematically targeting the countryside, claims insurer NFU Mutual. New figures released in August reveal there has been a 17 per cent rise in ‘argi-crime’ over the past two years, at a cost to industry of £49.3m last year alone.
The explanation seems to be that sparse areas are difficult to police, and rural residents also appear to be more trusting, with relatively relaxed attitudes to security.
While thieves have focussed on targeting farms and businesses to steal expensive tractors, heating oil, scrap metal and livestock – even in broad daylight – the NFU’s survey also showed some worrying new trends. Portable items, such as power tools, top the “hot-ticket” items for thieves, as they are easy to take away and sell on.