Farm shop security alert following spate of 'sophisticated' thefts
Date of alert:
Monday 4 July 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Staffordshire Police
An urgent security alert has been issued to farming businesses which run farm shops following a spate of 'sophisticated' burglaries across England.
Over the last month police forces have been alerted to raids on six farm shops in Staffordshire, Cheshire and West Yorkshire.
CCTV images suggest that the same gang could be responsible. In each raid, the thieves appear to know the layout of the shop and in most cases have been able to avoid triggering alarm systems.
In its latest rural crime report for 2021, NFU Mutual estimated that rural theft cost the UK over £43m the previous year.
David Harrison, sector lead for farming at the rural insurer, warned that organised criminals were exploiting the remote locations of many farm shops to commit burglaries.
In response, NFU Mutual has issued a security checklist in response to the new wave of break-ins, as well as new advice and guidance for farmers.
