The cost of rural crime in Northern Ireland fell by more than a fifth last year, although those behind it are becoming more “organised, sophisticated and determined”, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU).
Its latest report found that the rural crime cost in NI fell 21.3% to an estimated £2m last year.
The cost was £2.5m in 2022.
Across the UK, the cost was more than £50m as thieves became more organised to target high-value equipment and livestock in the countryside.
Rising inflation also made farming equipment such as GPS systems — which cost over £10,000 per unit — hot-ticket items for thieves to steal.
GPS systems are used to guide tractors and combine harvesters to improve accuracy; without them, farmers face delays and disruption to harvesting and cultivation work
Quad bikes and ATVs were also top targets, with thefts up 9% across the UK to an estimated £3.2m in claim costs.
These are essential to farmers’ ability to traverse their fields and complete work, making these thefts highly disruptive.
Livestock theft remained high last year in the UK, costing an estimated £2.7m.
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In July 2023, Co Antrim farmer Pat McKavanagh fell victim to theft when GPS equipment was stolen from his tractors.
It resulted in a £40,000 bill and delays in farm work while sourcing new equipment, said Pat, who added: “It really hit us hard to know that we’d been watched as we went around the farm and farm house.
“They knew exactly what kit we had and how to remove it. There’s no way they turned up on the off-chance.
“They had clearly checked out the farm and were waiting for an opportunity.
“It caused a huge amount of disruption. Farming is a very personal way of life and it affected us deeply.”
Since 2021, the NFU has provided more than £1m to assist farmers and communities against rural crime.
Last year, it became a major funder of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU), which is staffed by police officers experienced in detecting and preventing rural crimes.
The NFU and NRCU operate a dedicated team who share claims data and insight, helping to identify areas at risk and find theft patterns to assist recoveries.
NFU Mutual regional manager for NI Martin Malone said: “Although we’ve seen a fall in the cost of rural crime in NI, all the indications suggest rural crime is becoming more organised, sophisticated and determined in its nature, which is incredibly alarming for people who live and work in the countryside.
“Livestock theft in particular has become a highly organised crime, often involving 50 or more sheep being stolen in one raid.
“This crime can have a devastating effect on farming businesses, as well as cause huge worry to farmers about the welfare of their stolen animals.
“We know the impact of rural crime goes well beyond the practicalities of farming. It’s the unnerving feeling that criminals have boldly staked out and targeted farmyards and fields, often a few feet from the family home.
“It’s also living in fear of repeat attacks, knowing that thieves are always looking for new ways to target rural communities.
“That is why it’s so important for insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police and politicians to continue to work together to provide a united response to the challenge presented by organised criminals and opportunistic thieves.”
“We will also continue to support farmers directly to help protect their livelihoods, offer expertise as the main insurer of farmers, and provide advice to tackle rural crime.”