Though rural crime rates have levelled out, according to new estimates from a rural insurance company, the cost of crime has risen since 2013.

Thefts from farms and rural areas appear to have worsened with the onset of recession, but according to NFU Mutual's Rural Affairs Spokesperson Tim Price the number of claims for stolen tractors remained almost static between 2012 and 2013. Price added, "We've seen an overall increase in the cost of tractor theft in 2013 over 2012."

He continued, "The most expensive claims we are dealing with are for high-value tractors and telescopic handlers which are being stolen by international gangs for sale across the globe. Tractors with front loaders are a current favourite target."

Although high-tech equipment has been predictably attractive for thieves, Price said that NFU Mutual had identified an emerging trend for theft of mid to low-value tractors, which he said are often stolen for export to developing countries, often in Eastern Europe or Africa. The Rural Affairs spokesperson said certain brands had proven especially popular, with stolen Deutz Fahr, Ford, Massey Ferguson, and John Deere small and medium-sized tractors all having been recently detected in continental Europe.

Mr Price said, "We've only recently started to detect these smaller tractors on the continent - until now our searches have resulted in large expensive tractors being identified and recovered. Regions worst hit are once again the East of England thanks to its proximity to Channel ports, other Eastern counties of England and Northern Ireland."

He continued, "This means it is well worth having lower value tractors CESAR marked, and considering fitting immobilizers and even tracking devices. It's also well worth locking up tractor in sheds whenever possible - and at the very least parking them out of view from public roads. Even basic precautions such as closing farm yard gates and motion sensor lights can encourage thieves to look elsewhere for easier pickings."

Thefts of ATVs and quad bikes have continued to rise, too. NFU Mutual believes these are mainly being resold in the UK, so advised that prospective buyers exercise caution when considering purchasing used quad bikes.

"Whether you are buying a second hand tractor, quad, or a trailer, it is important to make security checks before you buy rather than after," advised Mr Price, who said that this has often led to innocent buyers losing out. "We're finding farmers tend to do 'due diligence' checks after they have parted with their cash for new kit. However, when they go to register their new machine with Datatag or another vehicle security register - such as TER - they find their machine has been logged as stolen."

"The solution is to always make enquiries with one of these registers before handing over the money," he concluded.