Leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has revealed that rural crime cost Wales £2.3m last year, a rise of 73% from 2021.

While NFU Mutual figures in its 2023 Rural Crime Report saw a significant rise in cost, after two years of reductions in 2019 and 2020, the figure is in line with pre-pandemic levels (£2.4m in 2018 and £2.6m in 2019 in Wales).

The upward rise reflects the trend across the UK which saw an overall increase in cost by 22% to an estimated £49.5m, up from £40.5m the previous year.

The rise comes against a background of soaring values and low supply of farm machinery worldwide. Criminal gangs have responded by establishing illicit global markets for farm machinery and technology equipment.

As a result, the UK cost of agricultural vehicle theft reported to NFU Mutual soared by 29% to £11.7m in 2022.

A survey of NFU Mutual Agents who are based in rural communities across the UK found 70% knew farmers who had been repeat victims of rural crime. And 86% said thieves are cashing in on the limited supply of vehicles and rising prices.

Quad bikes and all-terrain-vehicles (ATVs) were also top targets for rural thieves. In 2022, UK quad and ATV theft reported to NFU Mutual across the UK cost £3m, a 34% rise on the previous year.

These vital vehicles enable farmers to complete work efficiently out in the fields. Continuing supply chain issues are sending prices of second-hand machines higher, making the vehicles an attractive target for thieves.

The UK cost of livestock theft rose 8.7% in 2022, totalling an estimated £2.7m. Claims reported to NFU Mutual regularly involve over 50 sheep being taken in a single raid, which has a devastating impact on breeding lines as well as causing huge worry for farmers about the welfare of the stolen animals.

Amid the cost-of-living crisis, diesel and heating oil thefts also plagued farms and rural homes leaving some families without heat at the coldest time of year. Fuel theft doubled last year as both organised and opportunist thieves targeted the liquid gold sitting in fuel tanks across the countryside. 

While Scotland saw a decrease, England, Northern Ireland and Wales saw a rise in the cost of rural crime as thieves returned to the countryside and ramped up their activity after the pandemic years. 

Owen Suckley, Wales Manager for NFU Mutual, said: “Highly-organised gangs are causing disruption to farming and widespread concern to people who live and work in the countryside.

“Rural theft is changing. It is not only opportunist thieves travelling a few miles, we are now seeing internationally organised criminal activity. These gangs target high-value farm machinery and GPS kits because they can be sold all over the world.

“Many items are stolen ‘to order’ by thieves using online technology to identify where farm machinery is stored and scope out the best way to steal it. They will also spend hours watching the movement of farming families to work out the best time to attack.

“Loss of vital machinery and GPS equipment causes huge disruption to farmers who are already stretched to the limit and replacing kit in the current economic situation can take months, adding additional stress.

“Those targeted by criminals may often second guess themselves in the aftermath of an incident as well as live in fear of repeat attacks on what is not only their workplace, but also their family home.

“That’s why we are working with farmers to help protect their livelihoods, sharing our advice and expertise as the main insurer of farmers and providing support to tackle rural crime.

Wales has recently produced and published its first Rural and Wildlife Strategy 2023-2025, which keys into the national UK strategy and addresses six important areas, including farming crime and mental health and domestic violence in the rural setting.

Rob Taylor, Wales Rural and Wildlife Police Crime Coordinator, said: “Following our release from lockdown, post pandemic, we are not surprised to see criminals targeting our rural communities once again and to see the crime statistics return to pre-Covid levels.

“However, over the past 12 months we have made great progress in producing a brand new rural strategy and providing our rural police officers with the latest training and knowledge that they need to be more effective here in Wales.

“We now have closer working relationships with our farming unions and key partner agencies and we are seeing the roll out of vital operations and crime prevention initiatives, such as the ‘We Don’t Buy Crime’ project across Gwent and north Wales.

“We need to remain vigilant and continue on the path that we are on, with the main goal of serving our rural communities and providing the best possible service that we can.”

For more information on rural crime trends and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area download the report here.