RURAL crime cost Essex £1.8 million last year, new figures have revealed.

The data comes from the NFU Mutual annual rural crime report, published today.

In Essex in 2016 the cost of rural crime went up 44 per cent from £1.2 million in 2015.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across Essex over the last 12 months were garden equipment, machinery and tools.

Philip Breary, NFU Mutual Senior Agent in Colchester, Essex, said: “Rural crime in Essex has risen dramatically during the last 12 months, as countryside criminals are becoming more brazen and farmers are now having to continually increase security and adopt new ways of protecting their equipment.

“In some parts of the county, farmers are having to turn their farmyards into fortresses to protect themselves from repeated thieves who are targeting quads, tractors and power tools.

"They are using tracking devices on tractors, video and infra-red surveillance in their farmyards.”

The report reveals that being ‘staked out’ is the biggest worry for country people, followed closely by longer police response times in rural areas.

Criminals continue to target Land Rover Defenders, quad bikes, tractors, tools and livestock despite increased security on farms.

Philip added: “The threat of becoming a victim of rural crime, and regular reports of suspicious characters watching farms is causing high levels of anxiety amongst farmers who know their rural location makes them vulnerable to attacks.

“Our advice to people living and working in the countryside is to regularly evaluate your current security measures making improvements where necessary, remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police and local farm watch schemes.”

For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime visit www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime