Rural Crime Rising: How to Safeguard Your Farm and Equipment

Rural crime is rising. Farms and agricultural businesses are being targeted by organised criminals who know these properties are relatively easy targets. Read our latest blog to learn about escalating rural crime and the practical precautions rural properties can take to protect themselves.

Escalating Rural Equipment Theft

Theft of rural equipment from farms and agricultural businesses has significantly increased since 2022. Between 2022 and 2023 some regions of the UK were reporting a 20-30% increase in these impactful crimes, year on year.

In 2022 rural crime in the UK cost an estimated £49.5 million. This escalated by a massive 22.1% to £52.8 million in 2023. Insurers are reporting that claims for stolen farm equipment are now around 10-15% higher. The highest theft rates have been recorded in the Midlands, East Anglia and the South East.

There are a number of key factors driving this massive escalation in rural equipment theft.

The growing value of expensive machinery and equipment is a primary reason these valuables are targeted by criminals. Valuable farming equipment including quad bikes, tractors and trailers, along with new, high-tech devices including GPS systems, have become very expensive. GPS devices and tracking systems are in high demand making them very valuable on the black market.

There is also an escalating global demand for affordable agricultural machinery and parts. Stolen equipment is often resold for export or dismantled and sold as parts.

As recently reported by the BBC, organised crime gangs are significantly involved in rural equipment theft. These gangs are often highly skilled in what they do and have established links into illicit markets across Europe. UK Police have reported that funds, raised by crime gangs through the theft and sale of farming equipment, can end up in the drug trade.

Vast, isolated rural areas, where police presence is minimal, makes farms a ‘soft target’ for criminals. Thieves know they can raid farms in isolated rural areas with very low risk of being caught or challenged by law enforcement.

Another reason these criminals target farms is they know farm and rural premises generally have very poor security. Financial constraints mean that many agricultural businesses are operating on a shoestring and don’t have the funds to invest in reliable security systems. Criminals can easily see the equipment the farm is using, where its stored and whether there are any security precautions in place. The total absence of reliable security protection allows criminals to quickly gain access and target the specific equipment and parts they know they can easily resell on the black market.

Equipment Commonly Stolen from UK Farms

Reports of theft from UK farms and agricultural businesses include almost everything these enterprises use and rely on, from vehicles and machinery to fertilizer and animal feed.

Tractors and agricultural vehicles, including quad bikes, trailers and horse boxes, are amongst the most valuable items stolen from farms. These pieces of essential farm equipment have a high resell value and a very high demand, both in the UK and overseas. In April 2024, a valuable Hitachi digger was stolen from a development site in Dorset and finally located in Poland, 1200 miles away.

Other pieces of essential farming equipment targeted by criminals include combine harvesters, balers, mowers, ploughs and utility vehicles. Police forces in the UK are currently engaged in a campaign to stop and check vehicles on UK roads, carrying or towing pieces of farm equipment. It is reported that in just over 100 vehicle checks they discovered at least two that were illegal. The police operation is welcomed by the beleaguered UK farming community.

GPS and precision farming systems, including tractor steering control devices and monitors, are also high on the hit list for agricultural criminals. These systems are often very easy to remove and a lot more portable than larger pieces of valuable farm equipment. There is also a buoyant international black market for these expensive pieces of technology. Theft of tractor GPS units surged by 137% in 2023 with an estimated loss of around £4.2 million.

Criminals will also often focus on vehicle and machinery parts. Tractor batteries, for example, are relatively easy to steal and have a high resale value. Catalytic converters are also often stolen from farm vehicles and pickups. Tyres for tractors and machinery are also in high demand making them valuable targets for opportunistic thieves. And even the hydraulic pipes have been stolen from agricultural machinery by unscrupulous thieves.

Fuel and valuable chemicals are also commonly targeted by thieves. Agricultural Red Diesel and Petrol is readily siphoned from the tanks of farm vehicles and especially from fuel storage tanks. Expensive fertilizers and pesticides, relied upon by farm businesses, are also targeted by thieves who know these have a high demand on the black market.

And agricultural theft often extends beyond essential equipment. Livestock theft and rustling is a very serious problem for many farmers. Remote farm properties, with fields extending over widespread areas, can’t be easily monitored, making it simple for livestock thieves to effectively help themselves to grazing animals. Despite a decrease in rustling crime during the pandemic, there was a reported 33% increase in stolen animals in the South West in 2020. Over the four years from 2019 to 2023 around 108 cases of livestock theft were recorded just in Devon and Cornwall.

Impact of Theft on Farming Businesses

Theft has a very significant, severe impact on the viability of farming businesses in the UK. Farms are often operating on very slim profit margins and simply don’t have the financial resources to withstand the impact of losses due to crime.

The loss of equipment, machinery, livestock and resources including fuel, animal feed and fertilizer, means farms must cope with an immediate replacement cost. These costs can be many thousands of pounds which many farmers simply don’t have, sitting in their bank accounts.

Being targeted by thieves also means insurance costs have been growing. Insurance premiums have been rising with some insurers now imposing significant excess payments or even refusing insurance coverage.

Theft also has an immediate impact on ongoing farming operations. When parts are stripped from farm vehicles, or fuel is stolen from storage tanks, farming operations can be severely disrupted which inevitably leads to loss of income.

Another cost related impact of escalating rural crime is the need for greater investment in reliable farm security. Whereas previously, farms would have been able to leave valuable equipment outdoors and not worried about locking it all away every day, those times are gone. They now need to always make certain everything of value is securely stored and locked away and their property is ideally monitored with CCTV with all vehicles fitted with tracker devices.

And rural crime not only impacts farms and agricultural businesses. The cost impact of crime is ultimately passed on to consumers resulting in higher food prices and contributing to the cost of living crisis. Farm theft also reduces productivity, lowering farm yields and driving prices even higher. In one case a farmer lost £120,000 worth of essential farm machinery to thieves which delayed his harvest by weeks.

While the financial and productivity impact of rural crime is very clear to see, the emotional and psychological stress is often less apparent. Many farmers have dedicated their lives to their farms and inevitably feel violated and highly insecure when targeted by thieves. These experiences have a hugely detrimental impact on their mental health leading to anxiety and depression. It has been estimated that as many as three people, working in agriculture, die by suicide every week.

Essential Security Measures for Farms

Insurers, the NFU and rural policing teams offer some excellent, practical security advice for farms and rural businesses. We’ve previously highlighted the importance of layered physical security,  sometimes called ‘the onion approach’ or ‘defence in depth’. This form of security protection is intended to deter and delay attackers, providing time to respond and mitigate their impact.

Here are some practical recommendations.

Strengthen Perimeter Fencing and Gates

While this can be very difficult to achieve on some farms and rural enterprises, robust property boundaries can keep the criminals out. Sturdy fencing and walls, especially around barns and areas where valuable equipment, fuel and equipment is stored, is essential. Strong physical boundaries tell any would be intruder that the property owner takes security seriously, prompting them to find alternative targets.

Gates should be maintained in a good state and always securely locked, especially in areas where expensive equipment is stored. It should be ensured that gates are closed and locked as a matter of routine and farms benefit from using metal gates with anti lift hinges at farm entrances.

Install CCTV Surveillance Cameras

CCTV systems have become much more affordable and easy to install. Using CCTV cameras to monitor farm entrances and the areas where equipment is stored is a powerful anti-theft deterrent. CCTV cameras should always be accompanied by some warning signage to let people know cameras are in operation.

Install Motion Triggered Lighting

Although thieves have become increasingly brazen, most thefts occur after dark. Criminals like to commit their crimes unseen, in the dark. Motion triggered lighting, especially around farm entrances and barns where equipment is stored, can be a powerful deterrent.

Another important visibility related security enhancement is to make certain there are no blind spots or concealed areas where a thief might gain access, unseen. Clear any plant growth away from these areas and make certain they are well lit.

Install GPS Tracking Devices

All high value equipment including trailers, horse boxes, tractors and machinery, should each have a GPS tracking device installed. These concealed devices enable the whereabouts of equipment to be tracked if it is ever stolen.

Another related security technique is to use Geofencing. This system creates a virtual GPS-based security boundary that triggers alerts when tracked equipment moves across the defined boundary, outside the predefined area.

Install Immobilisers and Trailer Locks

A variety of devices are available to immobilise vehicles when not in use, such as steering locks and kill switches. Using these devices can prevent them from being driven off by criminals.

And trailers can potentially be secured using high quality, secure hitch locks and wheel clamps to prevent them from being towed away without permission. Another simple technique is to park up vehicles very close together, making them difficult to manoeuvre.

Security Label Everything

Everything of value that can potentially be stolen including tools, spare parts and livestock, should be security labelled. Some items, including valuable equipment and tools, can be security labelled by engraving or stamping visible, traceable ownership details. Livestock can be tagged using ear tags, microchips or branded markings.

The process of security labelling everything is also a valuable aspect of farm inventory monitoring and management. This can help when negotiating insurance coverage with an insurance provider.

Secure All Storage Areas

While physical security starts at the property perimeter another important layer of security needs to be applied around the specific areas where valuables are stored. These are typically barns, sheds and other structures and can also include farm yards and protected storage areas, where bulky equipment, trailers and machinery is stored.

All barns, sheds and outbuildings need to be secured with robust locks and they must always be routinely locked at the end of every day. All doors and windows must be maintained. kept closed and locked and possibly strengthened for additional security.

Alarm systems on farm buildings are a valuable precaution that can deter would be intruders and raise an alert, via mobile phone, if someone breaks in. CCTV cameras can be valuably deployed around these areas, along with warning signs, to warn any prospective thief they are being recorded.

Secure Valuable Equipment Inside Storage Areas

Another important layer of layered physical security is to not only store valuables inside locked and secured structures but to also physically secure valuables inside the structure or area. What this means is locking valuables in place so they can’t be moved.

Using immovable ground and wall anchors, inside a barn or shed, and then attaching valuable equipment such as quad bikes, trailers and tractors, to the anchors using robust high security chains and padlocks is a very effective security technique. Tools and equipment should be stored inside locked, immovable storage containers and fuel tanks should also be locked and secure.

While these security measures take a little time at the end of every day, they should be a valued part of daily security routines that will deter and prevent expensive and impactful losses.

Secure Fuel Storage

As mentioned, fuel storage tanks need to be secured to prevent valuable diesel from being stolen. Lockable, anti-siphon fuel tanks, ideally located in secured, locked locations, are recommended. These should be well lit and possibly monitored using CCTV.

Engage With the Police and Local Community

An important aspect of farm and rural property security is to engage with local police and the surrounding community. Valuable Farm and Neighbourhood watch schemes operate in some areas and if there isn’t one where you are, consider setting one up.

It makes sense to work with neighbours in the community to remain vigilant and look out for any unusual activity. Criminals will often spend time monitoring prospective targets before breaking in so its worth looking out for anything suspicious and reporting activity to the police.

Keep Records and Get the Right Insurance

As mentioned, the process of applying security labelling to all valuables also means taking an inventory of farm equipment, tools and anything else that might be stolen. Establishing and maintaining a clear record of everything on a farm is vitally important if the property is ever targeted by thieves. Keeping a detailed record should include taking photographs and recording serial numbers. These detailed records should be securely stored off-site or digitally, in cloud storage.

A full inventory of equipment and valuables on a farm can be used to make certain insurance coverage is adequate and all high value items are appropriately highlighted in the insurance policy.

Use the CESAR Registration Scheme

CESAR stands for ‘Construction and Agriculture Equipment Security and Registration’. This is a voluntary, UK based scheme designed to help prevent the theft of agricultural and construction machinery. The scheme offers a standardised way to identify and track valuable equipment in order to deter theft and recover stolen property.

Essential Farm Security Products

Visit these links to find essential farm and rural security products in our store.

• Ground and Wall anchors. Make sure valuable equipment can’t be moved by locking it to an immovable anchor point.
• High Security Padlocks. Wherever padlocks are used, make certain they are up to the job.
• High Security Chains. Quads, trailers and valuable machinery should be securely locked and chained to immovable anchors.
• Tool and Equipment Storage. All valuable tools and equipment should be securely locked away.
• Warning Signage. Display appropriate warning signage.
• Window Security Bars.  Bolster window security by installing window bars.

For more information on Rural Crime Rising: How to Safeguard Your Farm and Equipment talk to Insight Security