One farming family has described the financial and psychological impact of being hit by theft, after thieves stole a farm truck and thousands of pounds of tools.
The equipment and the vehicle were stolen from Nash End Farm on the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire border, run by the Cookson family.
See also: Video: How one farm has beefed up security after GPS theft
Four men were caught on CCTV striding around the farm in the darkness and looking for items worth stealing, as shown in the footage below.
Rosalind Cookson told Farmers Weekly that the thieves went on to break into a padlocked shed.
Valuable Makita tools, two chainsaws and a range of other smaller items were stolen from her partner Chris Gott’s workshop.
The farm’s Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon was also taken. A neighbouring farm was hit later, with the Land Cruiser possibly used to steal a trailer.
Five other farms have been hit recently in the area in recent months, Ms Cookson said.
She described the psychological impact after reviewing the video footage of the thieves.
“They were walking around so confidently. You just feel violated and frightened because it wasn’t even midnight when they came.
“I could easily have been out checking the stock at that time. It is so frightening to think I could have bumped into them.”
The stolen Toyota Land Cruiser © Rosalind Cookson
Farm winter rural security checklist
NFU Mutual is advising rural people to review their security, to help prevent crime and disruption.
It has produced a winter security rural checklist to help farms prevent rural crime as the darker nights close in.
- Close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieves
- Lock outbuildings at night and carry out regular security checks during colder months
- Ensure security lighting, intruder alarms and cameras are working correctly
- Avoid leaving vehicles and implements where they can be easily seen from nearby roads by criminals searching for theft opportunities
- Never leave keys in machines when not in use
- Remove GPS systems where possible and lock them in a secure place overnight
- Store diesel and heating oil in tanks away from the public gaze and consider a fuel tank alarm
- Store fertiliser in a secure building
- Store portable tools, such as chainsaws, jet washers and welders, in a secure, locked “cage”
- Join a local farm watch group or WhatsApp network to keep updated about local crime trends and suspicious sightings
- Mark tools, equipment and implements to deter thieves and aid recovery by police
- Use tracking devices, immobilisers and Cesar-marking on tractors and quadbikes to deter thieves
- Consider mechanical devices to anchor down quads
- Know what you own – record all makes, models, serial numbers and photograph kit to help police investigate and aid an insurance claim
Rural crime rates set to soar
Seasonal crime levels could be worse this year as the cost-of-living crisis pushes up black market values for fuel and equipment, rural insurers have warned.
Each year, criminals take advantage of darker nights and bad weather in the autumn and winter months, NFU Mutual says.
Criminals don’t like to be visible so prefer to ply their trade under the cover of darkness, said the firm’s rural affairs specialist Rebecca Davidson.
For example, figures show that half of the annual quad bike thefts in 2021 took place between September and December.
Since January 2022, 40 quad bikes and 66 pieces of farming equipment have been stolen in Cumbria alone.
The cost of rural crime is already rising and went up 40% in the first quarter of 2022, with fuel thefts doubling between January and June, NFU Mutual said.
Fuel, vehicle and equipment thefts could all increase this autumn and winter as the cost-of-living crisis bites, Ms Davidson said.
In one recent incident, fuel worth more than £4,000 was stolen from an Aberdeenshire farm.
Apart from fuel, farm vehicles are a top target and this is being heightened by supply chain difficulties affecting second-hand kit prices.
Defender thefts soar
The cost of claims for Land Rover Defender thefts increased 87% last year, insurance data shows.
And the number of thefts has increased in 2022 by more than one-third on last year’s figure.
Quad bike and trailer thefts are also up after showing a drop off during the previous two years, which were affected by Covid-19 lockdowns.
Meanwhile, food price hikes could see more livestock rustling as meat becomes a more lucrative commodity for thieves, Ms Davidson said.
“Our latest claims figures warn that rural theft is quickly gathering momentum as criminals make up for time lost over the past two pandemic years,” she added.
