Rural crime is on the increase with more tractors, telehandlers and other farm machinery being stolen than ever before. More and more farms are now being targeted by organised gangs and you could find tractor stolen and on its journey overseas before you notice it’s gone.

One of the possible factors causing the increase in rural crime is that levels of urban crime are successfully being combated. John Palfrey, the officer for rural and environmental crime for Gloucestershire Constabulary said, “There is no doubt that criminals are now turning increasingly to farms to provide their illicit gains,” he says. “Farms, by their very nature, are usually some distance apart, relatively isolated and usually present easy pickings for thieves.”

But, he adds, providing adequate security for farm buildings doesn’t have to be about buying expensive CCTV systems, floodlights, security gates and high fences.

“A lot of it is about commonsense, being vigilant and having working practices and routines which always make things difficult for thieves to operate,” he says. Of course, grouping together with other farmers in your area is a great way of increasing security and helping each other out.

Having spotted a tractor or another piece of farm machinery, criminals make it their task to steal it, usually having already worked out a way to get rid of it. The farmer’s task is to make such thefts as difficult as possible.