The cost of rural crime across the Midlands and Shropshire has hit a staggering £9.2million, new figures revealed today.

Nationally the cost of ‘agri-crime’ was up six per cent to £52.7 million last year.

Thieves helped themselves mostly to metal, fuel and tools in Shropshire, according to farming insurers NFU Mutal.

Some farms have even resorted to using llamas and geese against rising countryside crime.

They say the louder and more aggressive animals were being kept in with other livestock to deter thieves. And in some cases expensive quad bikes were being stored in pens behind Friesian bulls

Andrew Watson Jones, of Howell Manor Farm, on the A41 near Newport, said: “We had a forklift truck stolen. Without doubt farmers are having to take more precautions. Locked gates and light sensors cost money which you can’t recoup.

“Some farmers are putting more aggressive animals in with livestock. Guineafowl in with pheasants works well as does the odd Rottweiler – they deter thieves.”

Unlike other crime reports, The NFU Mutual survey includes claims for crimes against homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles.

Dave Probert, NFU Mutual account executive in Shrewsbury, said: “While rural crime continues to be an issue, the important message is that you can save a lot of money and heartache by taking steps to prevent crime from happening in the first place rather than recovering items after the event.

“In addition to the high-tech security solutions we can all take small steps to make life much harder for rural criminals.

“For example making sure your property is well lit, marking valuable items with Smart Water, enlisting metal engravers to help you mark larger items of tools and machinery and working with local police and community groups are just some examples of relatively inexpensive yet effective means of helping to deter thieves.”