equipment and machinery

• Claims data reveals October to December was costliest quarter for last two years ( 2018 and 2019 )

Robin Till from NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Ltd and PC Steve Kaminski from Cheshire Police Rural Crime Team .

PC Steve Kaminski said : “ The cover of darkness and inclement weather have always been the perfect combination for criminals to go on to farmyards to see what ’ s available , and if it ’ s the right time they will take advantage of vulnerabilities . We appreciate how busy farmers are and are pleased to join forces with NFU Mutual to help support with advice to help people secure their property .”

Robin Till works for NFU Mutual ’ s Risk Management

• Farmers advised to review security as nights get darker with clock change

• Special podcast available to help farmers and other rural dwellers ensure their property is well protected to avoid becoming a victim of theft

• Rural crime totalled £ 54million in the UK last year – an eight-year high , as thieves targeted high value

Services Ltd ( RMS ) which provides advice to farms across the UK to manage risks including rural theft .

Robin said : “ We advise farmers to go back to basics and look at the yard and entrance – is it open and inviting and waiting for thieves to come through ? Are there expensive items on display ?

“ If you have security lighting this is the perfect time of year to check all the bulbs are working and while it ’ s not nice to think about , regularly check that lights and CCTV cameras are facing the right way and no one has been tampering with them to make the yard dark for a return visit .”

NFU Mutual reported that rural crime in the UK totalled £ 54m in 2019 , and the cost of rural theft

has peaked in the October to December quarter for the past two years .

NFU Mutual Risk Management Services Winter Rural Security Checklist

• Close and lock yard gates at night to deter drive-through thieves

• Check existing lighting , alarms and cameras are working correctly and update if necessary

• Lock outbuildings at night and carry out your usual security checks in winter

• Avoid leaving vehicles and implements where they can be easily seen by criminals scouting for theft opportunities

• Consider infra-red beam alarms , CCTV and floodlighting to protect farm yards

• Store portable tools such as chain saws , jet washers and welders in a secure locked ‘ cage ’

• Join a local farm watch group or WhatsApp network to keep updated about local rural crime trends and suspicious sightings

• Mark tools , equipment and implements with your post code to deter thieves and aid recovery by police

• Know what you own - record all makes , models and photograph kit to help police investigate and aid an insurance claim

• Use trackers , immobilisers and CESAR-mark tractors

and ATVs to deter thieves

• Consider mechanical devices to anchor down quads

• Remove keys when machines are not in use and store them in a secure cabinet where possible

NFU Mutual has provided £ 430,000 support for schemes set up to tackle rural theft this year . These include the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service , which co-ordinates farm machinery theft intelligence between NFU Mutual , police forces , Border Force and Interpol .

NFU Mutual ’ s 2020 Rural Crime report is available at www . nfumutual . co . uk / ruralcrime .