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Crime in rural areas is on the rise

Monday, 8 August 2011 2:29 PM

Vast growth in rural crime led to the theft of agricultural equipment rising to an estimated cost of £49.7 million last year, according to new figures out today.

According to the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Survey, almost two thirds (62 per cent) of the insurer's branches reported an increase in rural crime in their area in 2010.

The survey, which looks at crimes against homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles, found that the countryside is proving difficult to police as thieves target outbuildings after midnight looking, in the most part, for portable and high-priced power tools.

When asked about the main reason thieves target the countryside, 41 per cent of NFU branches said the fact it was such a sparse area made it difficult to police, with 32 per cent claiming there was less chance of thieves being seen and 23 per cent saying they believed relaxed attitudes towards security measures could also be a factor.

Lindsay Sinclair, chief executive of NFU Mutual, said: "Whether it's the recession, tighter security in towns, or the rise in oil, meat and scrap metal prices, countryside people are feeling the blight of rural crime on their land."

Country people were not taking this scourge lying down, Sinclair added, as across the country new rural security initiatives are springing up.

"We've already seen that by working with the police forces and manufacturers, tractor theft and organised rural crime can be tackled head-on," she said.

"A united front against crime in the countryside will help to protect communities from being targeted further with vigilance as the watchword."

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