Tackling Machinery Theft

Published: 02/08/2024 By Greg Ridout

Greg Ridout looks at the latest initiative to combat countryside crime.

There will be few farmers and contractors who have not been affected by the rising theft of machinery from farms and sites throughout our region. It is not only machines that go missing, however, as fuel theft has increased. Householders are also at risk, with garden sheds proving easy pickings for criminals hoping to find valuable tools and equipment. The police response is invariably slow, or non-existent, which causes understandable frustration and anger, but we hope help is at hand.


The latest figures (gathered by NFU Mutual in 2023) show an increase in criminal activity across the British countryside.

• 4.3% increase in the cost of rural crime to £52.8m
• £2.7m of livestock stolen
• £10.7m of farm machinery stolen
• £3.2m ATV and quad bikes stolen
• 137% increase in GPS theft on 2022 statistics

Symonds & Sampson is supporting the National Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy, an initiative to coordinate national intelligence and analytical support to crime prevention and investigation teams. The aim is to reduce crime and build confidence in policing within rural communities.


It encompasses a wide range of issues and challenges, including:

• Agricultural and rural business crime: plant/agricultural machinery theft, livestock and equine offences, and cybercrime.
• Environmental and heritage crime: theft from land and marine sites, protection of marine life, and any illegal act that directly harms the environment.
• Games, sports, and wildlife crime: the illegal taking of animals and birds, hare coursing, and deer and fish poaching.
• There is also a rural isolation initiative identifying domestic abuse, sexual offences, child criminal exploitation, illegal immigration, and human trafficking.

It is a broad remit and will take great energy and coordination to succeed. However, there are also some quick fixes we can all implement to help in the fight against rural crime – such as fitting forensic markings to vehicles and adding theft prevention technology and immobilisers. Upgrading security with cameras and lighting, movement sensors, and intruder alarms may also help, but don’t be tempted to take things into your own hands – personally tackling ‘tooled up’ gang members may be foolish.

This article is on page P32 of Country Matters 2024, which you can find below, or collect a free copy from your nearest office. In another feature within the magazine, Paul Heard offers some useful tips on keeping your machinery insurance cover up to date. If you would like to arrange an up-to-date valuation, please contact Greg on 01935 382909 or Paul on 01884 218911.