The UK farming community has seen a huge increase on fuel theft, which has more than doubled in both cost and frequency in the first quarter of this year, compared to the same period in 2021. This was established from statistics extracted from a NFU Mutual rural crime report.
In the company’s view, the increase was driven both by criminal gangs roaming freely since the end of pandemic restrictions and increasing prices of diesel and oil. NFU Mutual catalogues that first quarter statistics show that thieves have been making up for lost time over the pandemic, with overall costs for theft over 40% higher than in the first quarter of 2021.
Rural residents are justifiably concerned about fuel theft and rising crime stats. In the insurance company’s recent poll, 89% of rural respondents are worried that inflation and the upsurge in the cost of living will result in more rural crime.
NFU Mutual figures also show that Land Rover Defender theft rose sharply in 2021, with stolen vehicles and dismantled parts costing £2.6m (€3.1m). This marks an 87% increase in the value of Land Rover Defender theft from 2020 and a 34% rise in the number of thefts.
Crime trends suggest that these numbers could rise further this year.