Published today, 16th June, NFU Mutual’s new report reveals that rural crime cost the UK an estimated £44.1 million in 2024, which marks a decrease from £52.8 million in the previous year. 

The total claims cost for agricultural vehicle thefts reported to the UK’s rural insurer fell 35% to an estimated £7 million last year, with global positioning system (GPS) units experiencing the largest cost decline, down 71% to £1.2 million following their spike in 2023. 

Quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) remained top targets for thieves, despite falling 16% to an estimated £2.7 million.  

Given the distinct characteristics of farmland, especially in upland areas, these vehicles are essential for farmers to navigate their fields and complete tasks efficiently, making their theft particularly disruptive, especially during busy seasons. 

Unfortunately, the very advantages that quad bikes and ATVs provide to farmers also make them prime targets for criminals.

‘Increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature’ 

Livestock theft remained high in 2024 at an estimated cost of £3.4m across the UK, NFU Mutual confirmed. A crime that dates back centuries, it has followed the wider trend in rural crime, becoming highly organised and often involving 50 or more sheep taken in a single raid.  

These incidents not only have a devastating impact on farming businesses but are also deeply upsetting for farmers and their families who are left worrying about the welfare of stolen livestock.  

UK farm animals worth an estimated £1.8 million were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2024, down by more than a quarter compared to the previous year. 

Hannah Binns, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said: “In recent years we’ve seen rural crime becoming increasingly organised, serious and persistent in nature, with thieves willing to pull out all the stops to get what they desire, and sadly we saw that trend continue in 2024. 

“Although we must stay alert, it’s encouraging to see that the estimated UK cost of rural crime dropped 17% to £44.1m as we continue to collaborate with industry and law enforcement to tackle this urgent issue. But we know there is always work to be done when it comes to rural crime. 

“As a farmer’s daughter, I sadly have first-hand experience of the fact that rural crime goes beyond disrupting farm work and impacting food production. It has a real impact on the mental wellbeing of farmers and their families, causing severe stress and sleepless nights as the rural community lives in fear that those responsible might return. 

“Co-ordinated efforts from insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police, industry and lawmakers are crucial in delivering a unified response to the rural crime challenge posed by organised criminals and opportunistic thieves – and we can see from our new report that this unified response can bear real dividends. 

“United, we can confront rural crime with strength.” 

National Rural Crime Unit

For over 20 years NFU Mutual has campaigned on the scourge of rural crime, and the far-reaching impact it has on affected communities. The insurer is now a proud major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU). 

Working hand-in-hand with the NRCU, NFU Mutual operates a dedicated team which shares claims data and insight, helps to identify areas at risk and finds theft patterns to assist recoveries. This kind of collaboration saw the National Construction and Agri Theft Team, which sits under the NRCU, seize £4.4 million worth of stolen agricultural vehicles and machinery in 2024. 

Last year NFU Mutual also funded the UK’s first livestock theft officer within the unit until at least 2027/28 to tackle this upsetting crime. 

To help farmers and rural communities protect their livelihoods from the threat posed by organised crime, NFU Mutual has provided over £400,000 on rural crime-fighting initiatives in 2024. 

READ MORE: Stolen machinery worth hundreds of thousands of pounds found in Durham

READ MORE: East Northamptonshire: Appeal launched following tractor theft

Read more rural crime news. 

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Officers from North Yorkshire Police confirmed that the incident took place on Thursday, 6th March, and saw the quick-thinking farmer immediately alerting the local rural watch team, who “in a matter of minutes” passed details to police officers. 

A spokesperson for the force explained: “CCTV operatives worked with our Force Control Room to establish further details about the vehicle and its direction of travel. Our Specialist Operations units deployed to the area, and the vehicle was stopped at 6pm near Coniston Cold. 
 
“The five occupants in the car aged 19,20, 21, 22, and boy aged 16 were all arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, the 21-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving. They currently remain in police custody.” 

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson speaks out about suspicious incidents on his farm

READ MORE: VIDEO: B&B Tractors depot rammed by ‘at least 13 offenders’

‘Rural communities are our eyes and ears’ 

Inspector Julie Earnshaw from the Craven Neighbourhood Policing team added that rural communities are “vital” in helping police to tackle crime.  

“They are our eyes and ears, and as the incident shows, farmers can provide quick-time information, which helps us move our resource to intercept any potential criminal activity. 
 
“I hope that this will give a clear message that we are committed to working together to actively prevent, deter and catch criminals who think it is ok to target rural communities,“ she concluded. 

READ MORE: Mass convoy of masked hare coursers wreak havoc in Cambridgeshire

Read more rural crime news. 

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Alan Steven, who runs a farm near St Andrews in Fife, said he received invoices to pay a building contractor £12,000 and a grain merchant £16,000. 

He paid the bills, however, not long after, his genuine suppliers started chasing him for payment. Mr Steven then realised he had been the victim of a sophisticated fraud, BBC News reported. 

It is understood that the scammers hacked into his email account and cloned genuine invoices before swapping in their own bank details. 

Mr Steven told the BBC: “We’re working with a new contractor for some concreting in the yard and building works. 

“That was £12,000. The quote all looks the same, but they’ve changed the bank details at the bottom.”

Fife farmer Alan Steven fell victim to scammers who hacked his email and cloned his invoices.

Source: BBC News https://t.co/35n17stpOo

— Dr Alan Bullion – Southborough East & High Brooms (@alanbullion2) November 24, 2024

‘Equivalent of your year’s wages you’ve lost’

Mr Steven added that he is not “technically savvy”, but like many other farmers, he has to do the admin work himself. 

The farmer confirmed that he was able to get some of the money back after contacting his bank and claiming insurance, but he lost £16,000. 

Mr Steven, who grows a mixture of crops from Brussels sprouts to wheat, said that he is “completely gutted”. 

“You’re out of pocket. You’re never going to see that money back again. Basically, it was the equivalent of your year’s wages you’ve lost. 

“I’ve suffered from depression in the past, and obviously, you know you’re trying to be positive. But you can’t just forget about it,” he told the media. 

READ MORE: Man jailed for transatlantic tractor scam worth over £130k 

READ MORE: 22 tonnes of cheddar worth £300k have been stolen from artisanal cheese maker

Read more rural crime news.

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Thames Police confirmed that a pick-up truck and quad bike were stolen last month from a farm located on the Windsor Castle estate, which also includes residences of the Royal Family. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla were not at Windsor Castle when the farm raid took place. 

However, Prince William, Princess Catherine and their three children were home at Adelaide Cottage, which is located not far from Windsor Castle, when the incident occurred. 

Ongoing investigation 

The burglary took place just before midnight on Sunday, 13th October. Two men scaled a six-foot perimeter fence and escaped by breaking through a gate with a stolen vehicle. 

Thames Valley Police told the media: “Offenders entered a farm building and made off with a black Isuzu pick-up and a red quad bike. They then made off towards the Old Windsor/Datchet area. 

“No arrests have been made at this stage and an investigation is ongoing.” 

Read more rural crime news. 

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Daisy, who was one at the time, was stolen along with three other dogs in November 2016 from her home in Mole Valley. Thieves took the working gun dogs from the garden kennels.

Tragically, one of the dogs was killed after being hit by a car as it tried to escape, and the other two were stolen. The dogs could not be located despite best efforts from officers. 

In a surreal turn of events, and nearly eight years to the day since Daisy was taken, officers were alerted that someone had tried to update her microchip details.  

Surrey Police rural crime officer PC Laura Rowley immediately contacted the microchip company to obtain the details of the new owners. 

READ MORE: Gundog Theft Awareness Week: Check how to protect your dogs

Not a dry eye in the house

Just two days later, officers from the Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood team completed a three-hour round trip to bring Daisy back to her owners.  

They said: “Daisy had been rehomed in good faith by the new owners, and they were unaware of the theft of Daisy. 

“We brought Daisy, who is now slightly deaf, back to the Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team Office and there was not a dry eye in the house when she was reunited with her owners. She recognised them immediately and stuck to them like glue.” 

Sadly, the other dogs, Tilly a black working Cocker Spaniel, and Storm a patchy white Patterdale Terrier, remain missing, and are believed to be elderly or have possibly passed away due to their age at the time of the theft.  

If you have any information that may be relevant, please contact Surrey Police, quoting PR/45160097926. 

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The pledge comes during National Rural Crime Action Week, a campaign that is running from 21st to 25th October 2024 to highlight the importance of local authorities, the police and rural communities to work in partnership to combat rural crime. 

PCC Donna Jones said: “There is an immediate and growing threat from organised crime gangs. These groups are not opportunistic thieves.  

“They perform meticulous supply and demand operations, stealing items to order, such as quad bikes or plant machinery and shipping them overseas. These criminals are serious, organised, and international.” 

Agile and robust response

Black market gambling, hare coursing, poaching, fly-tipping as well as the theft of livestock and agricultural machinery are also having a devastating impact on farmers and landowners.  

According to the National Farmers’ Union, rural crime cost the UK £52.8 million in 2023, marking an increase of 4.3% on the previous year. It includes a rapid 137% rise in GPS thefts. 
 
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s commitment to tackling rural crime includes a £1 million investment in boosting intelligence capability, area cars in rural areas, and named Local Bobbies for every rural community. 
 
PCC Jones added: “I’ve also invested in the most effective technology available to police forces across England and Wales with cutting-edge drones to track offenders, and mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras that the police can move around in rural areas. 
 
“This means Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary can provide an agile and robust response covering thousands of square miles and can monitor cross border activity to stay one step ahead of the gangs.” 
 
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s new police and crime plan will focus on further protecting rural communities with a commitment to increase the number of police officers in rural areas. 

‘I see you and I hear you’

In an open letter, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price is also urging equipment manufacturers and the government to take action to reduce expensive and essential GPS device theft from farm vehicles. His plea has been backed by five Cheshire MPs. 

Dan Price and the MPs, together with the National Farmers Union (NFU), the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) and local farmers came together to discuss and highlight the issue of serious organised crime and its impact on the agricultural community.  

They signed a letter that calls on agricultural equipment manufacturers to retrospectively add forensic marking on GPS devices, quad bikes, tractors and excavators to deter theft and aid with tracking stolen goods. 

The letter also asks the government to ensure legislation is fit for purpose by revising the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 to include modern immobilisation and forensic marking on all of the above equipment. 

PCC Price said: “Rural communities can often feel that their voices aren’t heard, but I want to make it clear to rural communities in Cheshire, that I see you and I hear you. 

“By bringing Cheshire’s MPs together to hear from those on the frontline of the agricultural industry about the impact this crime is having, I am galvanising their support to strengthen the national efforts the National Rural Crime Network (NRCN) is spearheading in bringing about changes to the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill. 

“Cheshire Constabulary has been working hard to tackle rural crime with some fantastic results. As a result of this, its Rural Crime Team has been awarded the NRCU’s Rob Oliver MBE Award for 2024, which recognises the outstanding contribution to the fight against agricultural and construction machinery theft. But I know there is always more to be done. 

“I am confident, that by carrying on this good work and starting the ball rolling to make change happen here in Cheshire, we can reduce crime, ensure our ongoing food supply and protect the livelihoods of rural communities, not only locally but across the UK.” 

Read more rural crime news. 

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What is more, the policing team, which was created last autumn, seized 17 vehicles, searched 34 properties and executed 10 warrants in its aim to tackle crimes affecting rural areas. 

Their work also included engaging with the rural communities and visiting over 200 victims of rural crime. 

In the last few weeks, the rural crime team has been celebrating their one-year anniversary, continuing to show their contempt for criminality by supporting national operations in the bid to disrupt criminals targeting Cumbria. 

READ MORE: Police issue warning following rural burglaries and farm thefts 

READ MORE: Crimestoppers launched first ever cross-border rural crime campaign

Successful in targeting rural crime 

Sergeant Amanda McKirdy from the rural crime team said: “We celebrated our one year as a team, continuing our aims of disrupting criminality and engaging with our rural communities. 

“We attended the Westmorland Show then supported both regional and national weeks of action, Operation Checkpoint and Alliance aimed at disrupting rural and vehicle crime. 

“We arrested several males, recovered stolen property and uplifted vehicles for use in crime, searched dwellings and other premises at various locations in Durham and secured bail conditions.” 

Chief inspector Natalie Jukes, the forces rural crime lead, added that the introduction of the dedicated rural crime team that has been supporting the wider constabulary in targeting rural crime turned out to be a success in the reduction in reports and property recovered. 

“The team have worked hard over the last year to reach out to our rural communities, conducing visits and giving rural crime prevention advice. This has given us a wider understanding of the issues they are facing and how we can deter and target criminals. 

“Rural crime is not victimless, the theft of machinery, fuel and other rural and wildlife offences have a negative impact on our communities financially and emotionally. 

“We continue to ask our communities to work with us by being vigilant, reporting crimes and any suspicious activity. 

“Continuing to report this information helps build a picture of the issue and direct our resources to that area and make it a hostile environment for criminals,” chief inspector Jukes added. 

Farms targeted by thieves

NFU Mutual has recently warned farmers to be vigilant and increase security this autumn as quad bikes and ATVs continue to be targeted by thieves. 

Intelligence shows that the East and South East of England in particular saw spikes in ATVs being stolen last month, but there are concerns thieves may travel the length and breadth of the country to scope out and steal these valuable and highly-desired vehicles. 

In 2023, quad bike and ATV theft reported to NFU Mutual cost an estimated £3.2m, up 9% compared to the previous year, and NFU Mutual and the NRCU are concerned a recent spike in thefts could affect farmers this autumn. 

READ MORE: Cost of rural crime in the UK exceeded estimated £50m

Hannah Binns, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “The very nature of farmland makes these vehicles essential to farmers’ ability to get around their fields and effectively complete work, making a theft highly disruptive. 

“Being from a family farm, I know the toll rural crime has on those who live and work in the countryside. It’s not just the unnerving feeling that criminals have staked out and targeted the farmyard, often where the family home is too, but the worry that the thieves will return in the weeks that follow. 

“In fact, we’ve seen several incidents where criminals have revisited rural locations previously targeted to steal the replacement ATV or quad bikes, which is extremely concerning. 

“To help prevent quad bike and ATV thefts, it is vital farmers remove keys when not in use and store the vehicle securely out of sight. Mechanical devices, such as steering brake/lock or wheel clamp can act as visible and physical deterrents to thieves. 

“Tracking devices and immobilisers are often GPS enabled with alarms and alerts that will can send messages informing you if your vehicle is being tampered with, so consider installing these. Such technology can also assist the police in helping recover stolen vehicles.”

Read more rural crime news. 

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The companies said that protecting rural sites has long been a difficult balance between efficient deployment and consistent coverage.  

A spokesperson for the partnership added: “In the past, surveillance technology was primitive in comparison to the advancements made in industries such as agriculture and construction. 

“Modern day problems require modern day solutions, and that has been the vision for BarleyGroupCloud since day one: providing small to medium sized enterprises with the tools they need to develop, nurture and thrive. 

“Now partnering with Hikvision and their new range of solar cameras, rural defence has never looked this good.”

Reimagining surveillance 

Hikvision experts explained that the main barrier when it comes to CCTV deployment in the countryside is terrain. 

Rural sites include forested areas, water features, varied topography, and at times are located within great distances from main power networks or cities. 

Often a trade-off needs to be made between protecting farmers’ properties and having a low footprint/keeping cost to a minimum, the company added. 

BarleyGroupCloud said that thanks to the great minds at Hikvision, this is no longer an issue.  

“With built in solar technology, 4G connectivity, high-definition video and flexible installation, your site can be protected in a matter of minutes.  

“The devices themselves contain a built in SIM slot for wireless connections and remote access. The panel itself powers the unit during the day and the integrated, long-life battery, allows the unit to remain active 24/7, rain or shine. 

“Additionally, unlike similar products, these models come with IP67-rated protection, allowing them to withstand any and all weather conditions, ensuring year-round protection and reliability. 

“On top of everything, the installation process is as simple as choosing and spot and mounting the bracket. This could be an outbuilding, trees or any structure you like, with no need for running expensive cables or installing additional infrastructure. 

“Then, you can access the camera feed directly from your smartphone or computer from anywhere in the world, at any time. Simple, efficient and reliable,” the experts added. 

For more information and detailed product specifications, visit BarleyGroupCloud website. 

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The online-only approach means that the company can offer lower prices for its consumers by avoiding the costly distribution channels used by other firms. 

The energiser range was previously sold by German-based company, VOSS Farming, however, they discontinued sales into the UK in February 2024, explaining the move due to “the complexity of handling orders post-Brexit and the associated rising costs”. 

Zap said it can overcome these challenges by holding all stock in its modern distribution centre, which enables a fast and efficient service for consumers across the UK. 

Directly to farmers 

With over 50 combined years of experience in electric fencing, the Zap team has created a comprehensive information guide on Zap’s website, designed to help consumers set up their electric fencing as quickly and as easily as possible.  

If the answer is not there, you can contact the technical team over the phone or through the website live chat during working hours. 

Roger Jones, sales executive at Zap Fencing, said: “Offering this reliable energiser range direct to farmers and equestrians across the UK gives consumers both quality and favourable pricing.  

“In addition to our website, the product range is backed by our competent team, who are on hand to assist customers with their electric fencing setup.” 

Read more farm security news. 

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Following the incident, officers are now encouraging rural communities to consider crime prevention methods they can take. 

A spokesperson for Cumbria Police said: “Farmhouses and other rural properties are the same as any other home, so general home security advice still applies. 

“However, because of the remote location, additional security measures may be beneficial.” 

READ MORE: Police issue warning following rural burglaries and farm thefts 

READ MORE: Rare breed chickens “stolen to order” in Newcastle 

Protect your home and farm

The officers have shared a number of measures to protect your rural home or business: 

• Keep the boundaries of your land and property well-maintained and secure.
• Keep all doors and windows shut and locked when not in use.
• Remove keys and keep vehicles locked away and out of sight.
• Install a visible burglar alarm.
• Make sure windows and door frames are secure and in good repair.
• Fit strong locks to sheds, garages, and outbuildings.
• Fit good quality window locks.
• Consider security bars for vulnerable windows and openings.
• Make sure gates cannot be lifted off or have their fixing bolts removed.
• Check security equipment regularly to ensure it works properly.
• Use locking posts or temporary obstructions to control wide access points to yards.

For further advice on preventing rural crime, visit Cumbria Police website.

If you notice any suspicious activity or wish to report a crime, you can do so online at or call 101.

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