RURAL crime cost Devon nearly £600,000 in 2015, down six per cent from 2014 – despite remaining broadly static at a national level.

The figures form part of NFU Mutual’s recently published annual Rural Crime Report, revealing that the cost of rural crime has now reached £42.5 million a year.

According to the leading rural insurer, the items most commonly targeted by thieves across Devon during the last 12 months were quad bikes (ATVs), horseboxes, trailers and machinery.

Emily Verny, NFU Mutual Senior Agent in Devon said: “Rural thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated and using computers rather than bolt cutters to steal from farms and country properties.

"Farmers and police have been working hard to adopt high-tech security measures to tackle the problems which now include: cloning tractor identities, advertising non-existent machinery in agricultural publications and stealing the GPS computer systems which are a key part of modern farming.”

There has been a shift in the items being targeted at rural homes as well; in the latest survey of NFU Mutual’s agency network, the theft of garden equipment was sited as the biggest growing trend along with 4x4’s.

“However, it is reassuring to see levels of rural crime falling – this reflects the huge efforts being made by anti crime schemes throughout the countryside, said Emily.”

The majority of NFU Mutual Agent’s surveyed (65 per cent) also reported that thieves in their area are becoming more sophisticated in the way that they operate and cyber crime is also a growing concern amongst their communities.

The survey also revealed that social media is now the main resource for sharing information about crime in rural communities and is a valuable tool – not only in the prevention of rural crime but also for catching criminals and returning stolen goods.

“Our advice to people living and working in the countryside remains the same; evaluate your current security measures making improvements where necessary, remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police but also community watch schemes, concluded Emily.”

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

Top five targeted items nationally: 1 ATV/Quad Bikes, 2 Machinery, 3 Farm and commercial tools, 4 Garden equipment, 5 Livestock.

Top five types of crime nationally: 1 Vehicle Theft, 2 Burglary, 3 Rural Business Theft, 4 Livestock Theft, 5 Vandalism.