FARMS ARE becoming fortresses, as rural crime insurance claims spike under a fresh onslaught of theft during the first six months of this year.

Rural insurer, NFU Mutual, has just published figures stating that Scotland saw a 20% increase in rural crime claims in the first half of 2017.

It believes that this rise has prompted farmers and landowners to up their on-farm measures to combat crime, employing increased surveillance and installing tracking devices on agricultural machinery.

Addressing these statistics in his latest blog, NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: "It seems like every week of the year now, NFUS uses its communications channels – text messaging, emails, Facebook and Twitter – to alert farmers and crofters to criminal activity in the countryside and the need for vigilance and action on their part.

"In the past few days we have been informing our members about sheep, quad and tractor thefts; poaching and hare-coursing incidents," he noted.

"Given the blight that rural crime is placing on our communities, NFUS is working closer than ever with Police Scotland and local police forces to combat this – whether that be the theft of vehicles, livestock, fuel, tools or metal or incidents of livestock worrying and fly-tipping.

"The number of arrests and convictions shows that taking action does work and the cost of crime in rural crime in Scotland has dropped. But there is no room for complacency," he stressed.

NFU Mutual’s annual Rural Crime Report recorded that rural crime cost Scotland £1.6m in 2016, down 32% from the £2.4m it cost in 2015, but also that the cost of rural theft had risen sharply in the first half of 2017.

"Working with Police Scotland, NFUS has held numerous on-farm events round the country in the past two years where members have received valuable tips on how to tackle crime and protect their property," said Mr McCornick. "A few simple tips, such as moving fuel tanks indoors; security tagging equipment or padlocking gates and doors can be enough to keep goods safe.

"Crucially, all types of crime and theft usually involve transport and the police are crystal clear that they want those who live and work in the countryside to report suspicious vehicles," he added. "Calling the 101 number with the vehicle registration lets the Police decide if that lorry, van or car has a valid reason to be at that place.

"And all those who live and work in rural Scotland are urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police. You can either do this by using the non-emergency number 101 or, if you suspect that a crime is in progress then you should dial 999 and not attempt to tackle these people yourself."