Rural crime is a growing concern for farm and estate owners across Suffolk. According to the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2024, 91% think that rural crime is becoming more organised. That means your protective measures need to be more organised too.
Whether it’s machinery theft, livestock rustling, or fly-tipping, the consequences of rural crime can be costly and disruptive. Criminals see rural areas as easy targets due to their remote locations and limited police presence.
But the good news is that there are plenty of effective security measures you can put in place to safeguard your land, property, and livelihood.
Understanding the risks of rural crime
Farms and estates are vulnerable to a range of criminal activities, including:
- Machinery and vehicle theft: Tractors, quad bikes, and other high-value equipment are prime targets. Agricultural vehicle theft remained high last year at £10.7 million. Notably quad bike and ATV theft is increasing.
- GPS theft: A worrying trend is the sky-rocketing numbers of GPS thefts. This expensive equipment is a huge asset to your business but there’s been a 137% increase in reported thefts.
- Fuel theft: Diesel stored on-site can be an easy win for thieves.
- Livestock rustling: Sheep and cattle theft is an increasing issue, causing financial loss and emotional distress. There are growing numbers of reports with slaughtering taking place onsite too.
- Fly-tipping: Illegal dumping of waste is not just an eyesore but can also be hazardous and expensive to remove for farmers.
Practical security measures
The key to protecting your farm or estate is to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to strike. Prevention is better than cure. Here’s what you can do:
Secure entry points
Install gates and barriers at all main entry points and keep them locked when not in use. Use heavy-duty padlocks and consider a monitored entry system for added control. Additionally, install vehicle recognition CCTV cameras to track vehicle movements.
Protect machinery and equipment
Store valuable machinery in locked buildings or secure yards overnight. Lock up GPS equipment! Don’t leave it in machinery. Use tracking devices on high-value vehicles to increase the chances of recovery if stolen. Mark all your equipment with unique identification numbers to deter thieves.
Keep an eye on your land
Install CCTV cameras in strategic locations to monitor activity. Use motion-activated lighting around barns, outbuildings, and fuel storage areas. Regularly check boundary fences and hedges for signs of tampering.
Build a strong community network
It’s been proven that strong community links help with rural crime prevention. Join a rural crime initiative in your area and help to keep everyone’s property protected. Share information with neighbours about suspicious activity as well as working closely with local police and report all incidents – no matter how small.
How Abbey Security can help
At Abbey Security, we understand the unique challenges that farm and estate owners face when it comes to crime prevention. That’s why we offer tailored security solutions designed specifically for rural properties.
Our mobile patrols are particularly favoured by farm owners as they provide a visible deterrent, with highly trained officers checking your property at random times to keep criminals guessing.
We also offer CCTV monitoring (and can recommend installers), helping you keep an eye on your land. For particularly high-risk areas, you may want to consider our manned guarding services to protect machinery, livestock, and storage facilities from potential threats.
Protect your farm today
Rural crime isn’t going away, but with the right security measures in place, you can make your farm or estate a hard target for criminals.
Let’s work together to keep your farm and estate safe. Get in touch today.
Posted on June 17, 2025