8
Aug
2012
By Calvin at 12:38 GMT, 13 years ago
NFU Mutual is the UK’s leading rural insurer and each year conducts a survey of claims experiences within its UK branch offices. This year’s survey of 2011 claims estimates agricultural theft costs of £52.7m, an increase of 6% [on the previous year].
The other headline findings of their report are:
- 76% of branch offices believe members are more concerned about crime than last year
- 74% of rural crime believed to occur during hours of darkness
- 71% of thefts believed to be planned
- Tractor theft fell 11% compared to 2010
- Metal and Chemical theft identified as growing trends
The report includes a table ranking the top ten most targeted items:
1. Tools, 2. Heating Oil/Diesel, 3. Quad Bikes, 4. Metal, 5. Machinery, 6. Tractor, 7. Vehicles, 8. Livestock, 9. Equipment, 10. Personal items
In terms of crime prevention the report identifies ‘high-tec’ and ‘physical’ security measures as being the most effective, but also highlights some of the other security measures being adopted by its members during the recession. These include:
- Keeping Geese as an alternative to alarms, because they are easily disturbed and make a lot of noise
- Housing more aggressive animals, such as Llamas, with their livestock
- Storing valuable machinery behind pens housing animals such as Friesian Bulls
- Placing humanlike ‘scarecrows’ within farm buildings to trick the thieves into believing that there is someone present [A bit like that film – Home Alone!]
Unfortunately I have not been able to find the full report. I have contacted NFU Mutual and if I can provide more information I will. In the meantime you might want to take a look at a very recent article in the Farmers Guardian about rural crime
