AGRICULTURAl crimes in Northern Ireland have risen in the last year according to analysis of police data by CompareNI.com.
In the year to the end of March there were there were 237 crimes against farms businesses - an increase of 41 on the previous year.
Burglary and robbery represented 28 per cent of the total, while theft of expensive equipment, vehicles and livestock represented the remainder.
And the estimated bill for rural crimes in 2022 was £40.5 million, according to the farm insurance comparison site.
The highest level of agriculture crime was seen in Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (41), followed by Newry, Mourne & Down (39), Mid & East Antrim (31) and Causeway Coast & Glens (23).
Five of the policing districts showed an increase in levels of agricultural crime. Antrim & Newtownabbey had the greatest rise, followed by Mid and East Antrim , Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon, Causeway Coast and Glens, and Lisburn & Castlereagh City.
It comes as farmers are contending with a surge in prices right across essential elements of their business such as electricity, fertiliser, water, animal feed and veterinary bills.
Research by CompareNI.com, based on a sample of 6,000 farm vehicle insurance policies, reveals agricultural equipment is most vulnerable to theft.
Worryingly, less than half of those sampled (41 per cent) keep their items in a locked garage or barn overnight.
A fifth of farmers don’t lock their garages or barns, while 15 per cent of vehicles are left out on unsecure driveways.
Ian Wilson, managing director of CompareNI.com, said: “Agriculture is an integral part of the Northern Ireland economy, bolstering employment and providing vital food supplies, so it’s disappointing to see agricultural crime rates are on the rise after the pandemic.
“Many would assume that due to the rural location of farms and the size and complexity of the machinery in question that theft would be unlikely, but it appears farms continue to be a target for specialist thieves.
“That’s one of the reasons why an insurance policy is so important. It not only protects farmers’ valuable assets and provides financial security, but also supports their livelihood.
“Additional security measures are obviously ideal to help keep the farm safe, but they can also save money, keeping vehicles in a locked barn or garage and off the driveway can bring the insurance premium down significantly, so it's well worth investigating.”
