In the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report in 2021, it was reported that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £43.3m in 2020 and that's just the financial cost.
It doesn't take into account the devastating impact of farm machinery or vehicle at a critical time like harvest, can be the difference between a bumper crop and financial ruin.t it can have on a farmers livelihoods through the disruption in can cause to day to day operations of a working farm. The theft of a key piece of farm machinery or vehicle at a critical time like harvest, can be the difference between a bumper crop and financial ruin.
During the Pandemic the NFU reported an overall drop in rural theft, but it also reported a number of new rural crime trends emerging as criminals tried to find new ways to profit from farmers.
One of the major increases in rural crime was of Tractor Global Positioning Systems(GPS) which can cost in excess of £10,000 per unit as well as causing costly delays to harvesting and other essential farming activity. The NFU reported that the cost of GPS theft had nearly doubled from the previous year to a staggering £2.9M.
The NFU has an online hub dedicated to the prevention of rural crime and contains lots of practical tips and advice on how to reduce the chances of becoming a victim.
They have also produced a comprehensive Farm Security Guide which can be downloaded from their website.
Supported buy the NFU, The National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has a team dedicated to combating theft of farming vehicles and in bringing those responsible to justice. Find out more about the important work they do: Agriculture and Plant | NAVCIS
