Cost Of Rural Crime Across Leics Rises To £1.5m

Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner says tackling rural crime is a top priority after figures revealed the cost of theft from farms totalled £1.5m last year.

The figure is up 19% on 2021, making the county one of the top ten worst-affected areas by cost in the UK, according to insurer NFU Mutual.

Criminal gangs are targeting machinery, vehicles and expensive GPS technology on tractors.

Matt Wilson from NFU Mutual told HFM the thefts have a big impact on farmers and their families:

Rupert Matthews with PC Kelly Tones of the Rural Policing Team

Leicestershire Police launched a Rural Policing Team in 2021 in a bid to tackle rural crime and in the past year has recovered stolen property worth nearly £1m.

Farm equipment and plant machinery taken from Weston by Welland, Smeeton Westerby and Glooston have been among the haul found by officers and returned to owners.

A significant number of arrests have also been made.

Last year the team was expanded from three to eight officers, in a bit to further target criminals preying on rural communities.

Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews spoke to HFM:

In Northamptonshire, rural theft cost an estimated £508,000 last year, down 30% from 2021 according to NFU Mutuakl.