Cost of rural crime soars by 45pc to break £1m barrier
The cost of rural crime in Shropshire has rocketed by 45 per cent in the space of a year and broken the £1 million barrier, it has been revealed.
Quad bikes, tools, oil and diesel have been the favoured targets of thieves across the county.
Farmers say they are being hit twice – by the thieves and then in rising insurance costs – and have claimed they are the victims of organised criminals.
It means the cost of crime from September 2013 to August this year has risen dramatically compared to the previous year's tally of £690,000.
The price of rural crime to farmers across Britain totalled £44.5 million in 2013, up from £42.3 million the previous year, according to insurance figures, a rise of 5.2 per cent.
Based on data gathered from its offices around the country, NFU Mutual also estimated that the number of sheep stolen had jumped from 73,370 to 91,562, a rise of 25 per cent.
No data was available for Powys.
Davina Stanhope, who farms close to Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, had seven pedigree sheep stolen two weeks ago.
She said that thefts have become so frequent recently that she can't even leave diesel stored on the farm.
"If thieves want to steal a vehicle and need diesel for it they will just punch a hole in the diesel tank, take what they need and leave the rest to drain away," she said.
She added: "I have even had haylage taken.
"The problem has really escalated and it seems to be organised crime, not opportunist theft.
"When the thieves took my sheep they took all females so they knew what they were doing."
Farmer Andrew Bebb, of Hanwood, said he had noticed insurance costs rising over the last couple of years.
"I am getting involved in a project to work with farmers, the police, rural hub and young farmers on crime prevention and steps that can be take in the fight against thefts," Mr Benn said.
Recently in Shropshire thieves tried to hijack a tractor, worth thousands of pounds, while it was being driven on the road.
Matthew Scott, chief claims manager for NFU Mutual, said: "After a welcome fall, we're starting to see the cost of crime in the countryside creep up towards its 2011 peak.
"Much of this increase is from tractors – often worth up to £80,000 – being targeted by organised criminal gangs.
"These machines are not only valuable, but they are also essential to running a farm and are sorely missed."
