A vending machine which dispenses eggs has been installed on farm because too many people were abusing its honesty box system.
The family-run egg business, Cavick House Farm in Norfolk, used to trust customers to pay the correct amount for their eggs.
Cavick House farm is a working farm and has been in the same family since the 1970's.
It has 16,000 free range hens producing eggs.
But the business was losing £150 a week because people were stealing eggs.
In the past, people could help themselves to eggs and leave the correct amount of money in an honesty box.
But now the farm has had to resort to a vending machine system which requires the correct amount of payment to give out packs of eggs.
It is estimated that 40 per cent of eggs not being paid for. The family told the BBC the problem was ‘a shame’.
The farming industry has rallied around the Government to take action on the blight of rural crime hitting the UK recently.
The NFU has warned in particular that farmers should not be seen as a 'soft target' for criminals.
In terms of machinery theft, Warwickshire police are using an innovative solution to stop vehicle thieves in rural areas by fitting farm machinery with tracking devices.
