Friday 25 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
08/08/2011 07:52:59
Agricultural theft on the rise, says rural insurer
Theft is estimated to have cost the UK farming industry ’49.7m in 2010, a major rural insurer says.
NFU Mutual said "agri-crime" on Britain’s farms has risen from ’41m in 2009, with power tools the most stolen item in 2010.
Thieves were most likely to strike at night and raid outbuildings, it said.
The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Survey (RCS) was based on the 2010 claims experience of its branch offices in rural towns and villages.
It found that two-thirds of branches had reported an increase in rural crime in their area.
In England, theft cost farmers ’42.8m in 2010, up 26% on the previous year.
In Scotland, the cost of such claims had risen by 57% since 2009, to ’1.4m, while in Northern Ireland it had risen by 28% to ’3.8m.
But in Wales, the cost was ’1.7m - down by 48% from the previous year.
The survey found that power tools such as chainsaws, electric drills and lawnmowers topped the most stolen items list in 2010.
While thieves tended to target farms and businesses during broad daylight to steal tractors, heating oil, scrap metal and livestock, 59% of branches said the most common time of day for thieves to act was between midnight and 0600.
’Vigilance’
Nearly 60% said thefts from farms or outbuildings was the biggest problem, while 12% said garden sheds and garages attracted thieves.
When asked about the main reason thieves target the countryside, 41% of branches said the sparse area made it difficult to police, while 32% claimed there was less chance of thieves being seen.
Nearly a quarter of branches thought relaxed attitudes towards to 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.
"However, country people are not taking this scourge lying down.
"We’ve already seen that by working with the police forces and manufacturers, tractor theft and organised rural crime can be tackled head-on. A united front against crime in the countryside will help to protect communities from being targeted further with vigilance as the watchword."
The survey included claims for crimes against homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles. A total of 272 of a possible 324 responses were received from NFU Mutual’s branch network.
 |
NFU Mutual said "agri-crime" on Britain’s farms has risen from ’41m in 2009, with power tools the most stolen item in 2010.
Thieves were most likely to strike at night and raid outbuildings, it said.
The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Survey (RCS) was based on the 2010 claims experience of its branch offices in rural towns and villages.
It found that two-thirds of branches had reported an increase in rural crime in their area.
In England, theft cost farmers ’42.8m in 2010, up 26% on the previous year.
In Scotland, the cost of such claims had risen by 57% since 2009, to ’1.4m, while in Northern Ireland it had risen by 28% to ’3.8m.
But in Wales, the cost was ’1.7m - down by 48% from the previous year.
The survey found that power tools such as chainsaws, electric drills and lawnmowers topped the most stolen items list in 2010.
While thieves tended to target farms and businesses during broad daylight to steal tractors, heating oil, scrap metal and livestock, 59% of branches said the most common time of day for thieves to act was between midnight and 0600.
’Vigilance’
Nearly 60% said thefts from farms or outbuildings was the biggest problem, while 12% said garden sheds and garages attracted thieves.
When asked about the main reason thieves target the countryside, 41% of branches said the sparse area made it difficult to police, while 32% claimed there was less chance of thieves being seen.
Nearly a quarter of branches thought relaxed attitudes towards to 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.
"However, country people are not taking this scourge lying down.
"We’ve already seen that by working with the police forces and manufacturers, tractor theft and organised rural crime can be tackled head-on. A united front against crime in the countryside will help to protect communities from being targeted further with vigilance as the watchword."
The survey included claims for crimes against homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles. A total of 272 of a possible 324 responses were received from NFU Mutual’s branch network.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
Landini 100 Vision - Omagh(GBP 20400)
John Deere - 6400 TRACTOR - Norwich(GBP 11000)
Ford 4000 - Peterborough
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Massey Ferguson 6490 - YORK(GBP 31950)
John Deere - 7530 TRACTOR 2010 - Norwich
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Related News
Rural insurer boosts its Somerset team - 24 May 2010Two new Inspectors have been recruited in Somerset by regional firm Cornish Mutual, following increased demand for specialist agricultural insurance a...
Further Somerset expansion for rural insurer - 21 Jul 2011Expanding its business in Somerset will remain a key focus for rural insurance firm Cornish Mutual with the appointment of a new Inspector - the third...
Research reveals rise in GPS vehicle thefts - 10 Mar 2012New research from the Sentinel consortium reveals a rise in vehicle thieves using jammers in an attempt to outsmart the police. Criminal gangs can eas...
Stanley keeps ‘EasiWatch’ over cost of agricultural plant theft - 04 May 2006Stanley Security Solutions has announced the timely launch of 'EasiWatch', a cost effective, mobile CCTV system ideal for use in the agricultu...
McCormick tractor highlights rural equipment theft at national seminar - 16 Dec 2011• National seminar reviews rural crime and measures to combat it • Event hosted by Crimestoppers crime-fighting charity and ACPO • McCormick tractor...
Rural football fans will lose out says rural watchdog - 07 Oct 2009The Country Land and Business Association says that rural football fans will lose out because they will not be able to watch their national team on Sa...
MP backs wage rise for Ayrshire agricultural workers - 13 Aug 2008Wages for agricultural workers in Ayrshire could be set to rise. A proposal to increase pay packets by 4.1 per cent for the minimum workers' ra...
Concerns rise over agricultural anti-avoidance measures - 16 Mar 2012HM Treasury this week announced changes to the rules for losses that can be claimed by a person from a property business with a relevant agricultural ...
Thrapston rural agricultural centre relocation - 07 Apr 2011The owners of Thrapston livestock market are unveiling plans to relocate to new purpose built facilities on the edge of the town, with the creation of...
MSP raises agricultural wages at Rural affairs meeting - 24 Jun 2011MSP for Angus South, Graeme Dey, this week raised both the bureaucratic problems surrounding the SRDP rural payments system and concerns over the Scot...
