The Escalating Costs of Rural Crime and Our Commitment to Protection
All the indications suggest rural crime is becoming more organised, sophisticated, and determined in its nature. NFU Mutual’s latest figures estimate that that the cost of rural crime increased by 4.3% year-on-year in 2023, to £52.8m, as criminal gangs targeted farmyards and fields looking to cash in on continuing high inflation and ready resale markets domestically and overseas.
Rural crime is not a new phenomenon by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a concerning rise in organised criminals targeting farms and rural communities. A survey of NFU Mutual Agents, who are often embedded in the local communities they serve, found 91% believed thieves were more organised, with 82% saying they knew farmers who had been impacted by rural crime in their area.
Shockingly, 77% of NFU Mutual Agents knew farmers who had been repeat victims, leaving farmers feeling vulnerable in what is not just their workplace but also their family home.
Another big concern is that 86% of those Agents surveyed said rural crime was negatively impacting farmers’ mental wellbeing. This, alongside various industry challenges, makes it more important than ever for farmers and their families to speak out about anything that may be troubling them and seek support through charities such as the Farm Safety Foundation.
Agricultural vehicles and GPS theft
Global Positioning Systems (GPS) were the hot ticket item for criminals throughout 2023, who travelled across the UK to steal these highly valuable and portable kits. Intelligence revealed thieves targeting several farms in one night before moving locations, often revisiting farmyards and fields weeks later to steal any replacements. Underlining this growing trend, in 2023 the cost of GPS theft reported to NFU Mutual rocketed by 137% to an estimated £4.2m. GPS kits are vital to modern farming; without this sophisticated technology to guide combines and tractors, farmers and contractors can face severe delays and disruptions. Despite this, we’re pleased to report that the total cost of agricultural vehicle theft claims fell 9% to an estimated £10.7m in 2023.
Quad bike and ATV theft
Quad bike and all-terrain vehicle (ATV) theft reported to NFU cost an estimated £3.2m in 2023, up 9% compared to the previous year. 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, especially during peak seasons.
Unfortunately, the very benefits that quads and ATVs offer farmers also makes them highly attractive to thieves, who will often flee a farm on a stolen vehicle.
Source: NFU Mutual
Why Security Solutions Matter..
At Hafren Security Fasteners, we are deeply committed to helping farmers safeguard their valuable equipment and assets. We understand the devastating impact that theft can have on agricultural operations, and our mission is to alleviate these burdens by offering state-of-the-art security solutions. Our high-security fasteners are designed to prevent the theft of GPS systems, vehicles, and other crucial farm assets, providing farmers with peace of mind.
Our tamper-resistant fasteners and advanced anti-theft products are specifically engineered to protect against organised criminal activity. These innovative solutions help ensure that farm operations can continue without interruption, even as rural crime becomes more sophisticated.