How will the rise in the cost of living affect rural crime?

You’re probably sick of hearing all the doom and gloom in the news.

It just seems like one thing after another.

Something that’s quite prominent at the moment, is the rise in the cost of living.

The price of everything from fuel to new socks has gone nuts.

So naturally, everyone is thinking save, save, save!

If you want to be warm this winter, those new socks will be a handy purchase.

As incomes are relatively less than this time last year, people will be looking for new ways to scrape cash together.

It’s times like this when stupid decisions are made. It’s times like this when humans turn to crime.

A poll by NFU Mutual found 89% of respondents are worried the cost of living rise will increase rural crime.

Rural crime is back with a bite

During the pandemic crime in rural areas dropped.

Criminals were kept indoors, and rural communities were given a deserved rest.

But two years on rural crime has picked up where it left off in 2020.

Many in the rural community anticipate a tough winter ahead as criminals pursue items that are now high value.

Which items in particular?

Food
Fuel
Spare Parts

When you go to the shop you’ll see everything‘s a lot more expensive. That means goods like maise, lamb, barley and beef have a higher price tag.

Soaring food prices have made livestock rustling a better-paid crime for gangs and it increases the toll each theft has on farmers.

Last year livestock theft cost farmers an estimated £2.4 million in the UK.

If that wasn’t enough, the cost of doing anything with a machine has gone up by 50%.

You’ll have noticed fuel is a long way from 99p a litre.

The first half of the year has seen the cost and frequency of fuel thefts more than double.

Many rural households depend on fuel to heat their homes. And farmers need diesel to run their machinery.

So, victims of this fuel theft are affected far beyond the cost of replacing their fuel.

But for criminals; the bigger the payday, the bigger the risk they’re willing to take.

And the cost to you will be much higher than it was this time last year.

Here's what we're going to do about it

It’s time to protect your property.

You may not be a farmer and you may not have a fuel tank. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have something worth pinching.

And even if there is nothing to run off with, the people sneaking around your property don’t know that.

First things first, make it harder to access your property. How?

Update locks
Install new doors
Upgrade your fencing
Put padlocks on gates

Next, make sure your valuables are out of sight.

It’s the same as leaving your car unlocked whilst you do your weekly shop. Nine times out of ten, nothing happens.

But it’s worth the extra effort to stop someone running off with your car whilst you’re standing there with melting ice cream.

So put the trailer out of sight and make sure your machinery is locked away.

If you’re in the group that can’t lock away equipment and can’t afford to reinforce your property, there’s another option.

Turn to technology

Your new security camera can be up and running for well under £100.

Combatting rural crime isn’t going to be easy. But it doesn’t need to be expensive.

And it will be cheaper than replacing anything that’s been stolen.

But how is it going to stop someone zooming off with your old trailer?

You’ll be alerted to a human presence at the earliest opportunity. Meaning you can take action before they’ve got their gloves on.

Why believe us?

You’re probably thinking, “here’s a security camera company pushing their cameras”.

But this isn’t a sales pitch.

We’ve already said, there are other options to think about first.

Installing a camera is number three on the checklist list.

And remember, the cost of rural crime to you is going to be much bigger than it was a year ago.

Stats from the first quarter of 2022 make for worrying reading.

Costs of rural crime are up by over 40% on the same period the previous year.

Yes, the pandemic was still keeping criminals away. But the NFU is concerned they will be making up for lost time.

Combine that with the rise in the cost of living and supply chain strain, a rise in rural crime stops short of inevitable.

Take action before it’s too late

Don’t be guilty of closing the door after the horse has bolted.

Put security in place to prevent rural crime, not as a consequence of it.

The cost of replacing livestock, tractors, ATVs, chainsaws, cars is much more expensive than beefing up your security.

If you’re unsure whether you should get a security camera or not read this article.