Figures released on Monday (5th August) by rural insurer NFU Mutual show the overall cost of rural crime in the UK dropped by 20 percent in 2012, but the insurer warned there is no room for complacency as thefts still cost an estimated £42.3 million.

The figures, based on claims data, were published as part of the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Survey, which looks are instances of crime against rural homes, farms, commercial premises and vehicles. Last year's drop off follows four consecutive years of rising 'agri-crime' levels, which coincided with the onset of recession and have caused mounting concern in the farming industry since that time.

The 'agri-crime' reduction was driven largely by a big fall in tractor and quad bike thefts, claims for which fell by 32 and 17 percent respectively. Vehicle thefts still accounted for over a third of the claims handled by NFU Mutual. The insurer said that, as well as quad bikes, tools and fuel seem to have been most popular with thieves in 2012.

Continuing a trend set in previous years, 2012 saw a slight increase in claims for livestock theft. NFU Mutual pointed out that the rise was no way near as severe as 2011, when livestock thefts increased threefold over 2010 levels. 

Matthew Scott, Chief Claims Manager at NFU Mutual, commented on the findings, "It's great news that after four years of rises rural crime fell significantly last year. The fall is a vindication of the tremendous efforts made by country people, police, NFU Mutual and agriculture vehicle manufacturers to improve security and beat crime."

However, he said figures form this year show there is no room for complacency, "Rural crime is still taking place at significant levels. In 2013, whilst numbers of thefts are slowly declining, we have seen some worrying spikes in high value tractor thefts – and a recent spate of tractor GPS guidance system thefts showing that thieves will steal anything of value from farms".

National estimates from the insurer reveal that the fall in rural crime was fairly consistent across most regions of the UK during 2012, ranging from -12 percent in the East of England to -32 percent in the Midlands. Only Scotland saw an increase year-on-year (+12 percent), but this only represented a growth of just over £200,000 in the cost of crime.