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The national picture

Rural crime has risen in almost every region of the UK. Our statistics shows that levels of quad theft, livestock theft and agri-vehicle theft have all increased since 2017.

Last year rural crime cost the UK

£49.9m

Cost in 2017:

£44.5m

Change:

12.1%

Cost of theft by type:
  • Agri-vehicle theft£7.4m26%
  • ATV/Quad theft£2.6m10%
  • Livestock theft£2.5m4%
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East

Both Lincolnshire and Essex are among the three UK counties worst affected by rural crime. Essex suffered the most agri-vehicle theft in the country, and Norfolk saw a 99.5% increase in the cost of crime.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£6.9m

Cost in 2017:

£5.7m

Change:

21.8%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • Garden Equipment
  • Machinery
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Midlands

The cost of rural crime in the Midlands is higher than anywhere else in the country. It is the region most affected by both quad theft and agri-vehicle theft.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£9.8m

Cost in 2017:

£8.9m

Change:

10.3%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Machinery
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North East

The North East has experienced the largest increase in the cost of rural crime of any region in England. It is the UK’s second worst affected region for both quad theft and agri-vehicle theft.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£8.6m

Cost in 2017:

£6.8m

Change:

25.2%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Machinery
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North West

The North West has experienced the smallest increase in the cost of rural crime. Lancashire was the UK county worst affected by quad and ATV theft, but Cheshire experienced one of the greatest reductions in the cost of crime.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£3.4m

Cost in 2017:

£3.4m

Change:

1.4%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Machinery
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Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has experienced a small increase in the cost of rural crime. It is the part of the UK least affected by both quad theft and agri-vehicle theft.

Last year rural crime cost the area

£2.8m

Cost in 2017:

£2.7m

Change:

3.9%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Livestock
  • Trailers & Horseboxes
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Scotland

Despite experiencing the largest percentage increase in the cost of crime of anywhere in the UK, Scotland remains the area least affected by rural crime.

Last year rural crime cost the country

£1.6m

Cost in 2017:

£1.0m

Change:

62.2%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • Oil/Diesel
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South East

The cost of rural crime in the South East is higher than anywhere in the country except the Midlands. Kent is the UK’s worst affected county, while Buckinghamshire experienced an increase in crime of 124% - the largest anywhere.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£8.6m

Cost in 2017:

£7.6m

Change:

13.1%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Machinery
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South West

The South West is the only region of England where the cost of rural crime fell. Dorset experienced one of the greatest reductions – the cost of crime is down 22.3%.

Last year rural crime cost the region

£5.8m

Cost in 2017:

£5.9m

Change:

-1.1%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Machinery
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Wales

While most of the UK has experienced a significant rise in the cost of rural crime, Wales is one of only two areas where the cost of crime has fallen. Wales has seen the greater reduction.

Last year rural crime cost the country

£2.4m

Cost in 2017:

£2.6m

Change:

-7.1%

Top 3 most popular items for thieves:
  • ATVs/Quads
  • Tools (Farming & Commercial)
  • Livestock
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