Criminal Harvest: Gangs Targeting the Countryside

As a result, the National Farmers Union (NFU) is urging Police and Crime Commissioners and the government to take swift and decisive action to combat the growing incidents of equipment theft, livestock worrying, and fly-tipping, which are threatening livelihoods and food production across the country.

“Farmers are bearing the brunt of rural crime. It’s not just an inconvenience – it’s devastating for farm businesses, families, and the wider rural community. The theft of essential equipment and livestock, relentless fly-tipping, and the growing menace of hare coursing leave farmers feeling vulnerable and unsupported.”
— NFU Vice President Rachel Hallos

While it is essential that the government addresses this issue with the seriousness it deserves, one should not place all hope in the state alone. Taking responsibility for securing your property is paramount — and this is precisely where Marengo can support you. However, the first step in tackling any issue is understanding it. In this article, we aim to raise awareness of the realities facing rural England and what steps can be taken to protect one’s property.

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Crime Becoming More Organised

As outlined in the NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2024, “rural crime is becoming more organised, sophisticated, and determined in its nature.” Rural crime increased by 4.3% in2023, reaching an estimated £52.8 million. Organised criminal gangs have been increasingly targeting farms and fields, capitalising on high inflation and easy resale markets both in the UK and abroad.

Although rural crime is not anew phenomenon, the rise in organised theft is particularly alarming. A survey of NFU Mutual Agents found that 91% believe criminals are becoming more organised, while 82% know farmers in their area who have been affected.

“We’ve had cases where individuals have been caught on CCTV scouting out the site before returning the following night.”
— NFU Senior Agent Mutual Holland

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Agricultural Vehicle and GPS Theft

GPS systems were a primary target for criminals in 2023. Thieves travelled across the UK to steal these highly valuable and portable devices. Many farms were struck multiple times, with offenders often returning weeks later to take replacements. This disturbing trend saw the cost of GPS theft reported to NFU Mutual rise by 137%, to an estimated £4.2 million. These systems are vital to modern farming, guiding combines and tractors, and their loss can cause serious delays.

Interestingly, police have linked the rise in farm machinery theft to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Evidence suggests that a significant proportion of stolen machinery is being sent to Eastern Europe and ultimately to heavily sanctioned Russia. As noted earlier, organised criminals are seeking to benefit from inflated prices — and nowhere have prices risen more dramatically than in Russia, which has been excluded from Western trade.

“If you asked me my professional opinion, for a country that’s under sanctions, then absolutely I would professionally expect the black market to be responding to that. That’s what criminals do.”
— Andrew Huddleston, Head of the UK’s National Rural Crime Unit

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Livestock Theft

Livestock theft remains a major source of distress for farmers, with high levels of loss persisting. Raising livestock involves months of work, making theft both financially and emotionally devastating. There have been alarming reports of animals being butchered in fields, leaving behind horrific scenes. Beyond the financial loss, these crimes disrupt valuable breeding lines and raise serious concerns about the welfare and treatment of stolen animals.

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Quad Bike and ATV Theft

Theft of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) continues to be a significant problem, with losses estimated at £3.2 million — a 9% increase on the previous year. These vehicles are vital for daily farm work, especially during peak periods, so their theft causes considerable disruption. The open and remote nature of farmland often makes it easier for thieves to remove such equipment.

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Fly-Tipping

Fly-tipping — the illegal dumping of waste on land not licensed to receive it — is also on the rise, with reported incidents increasing by 6% to 1.15 million. The NFU has expressed concern over the scale of the issue, which remains a serious problem for rural communities and farmers alike.

Household waste is the most commonly dumped material. While incidents on highways have declined slightly, construction waste-related fly-tipping increased by 8%, and large-scale cases by 11%. The most frequent incident size was a ‘small van load’ (31%), followed by ‘car boot or less’ (28%). Larger incidents, such as ‘tipper lorry loads’, made up 4% — around 47,000 cases.

Fly-tipping on private land remains significantly underreported, although it is estimated to affect two-thirds of farmers. The cost of clearance for local authorities reached£13.1 million, while enforcement actions fell slightly and fixed penalty notices declined by 5%.

What Can Be Done?

Conduct a Security Review
Bring in a professional team to assess your estate's vulnerabilities from both a physical and human intelligence standpoint — including perimeters, access points, blind spots, and staff procedures.

Layered Physical Security
Don’t rely on a single solution. Combine high-quality perimeter fencing, gates with anti-lift hinges, motion-triggered lighting, and locked storage units to create multiple deterrents that slow intruders down at every stage.

Deploy Smart Surveillance
Install CCTV systems that offer remote monitoring, night vision, and automatic alerts — ideally with coverage of entry/exit points, equipment storage, and livestock areas. Position cameras visibly to act as deterrents, but with some concealed backups for redundancy.

Use Asset-Specific Protection
Fit GPS trackers on valuable machinery and vehicles, install immobilisers, and use geofencing alerts. Ensure GPS systems themselves are PIN-protected or removed after use. Store high-value items in alarmed, access-controlled buildings.

Integrate Human Presence
Trained security personnel, either full-time or on a mobile patrol basis, offer not just a deterrent but also rapid response capability. Their visibility alone can significantly reduce the chance of targeted theft.

Establish Local Intelligence Networks
Build relationships with neighbouring landowners, local law enforcement, and community watch groups. Sharing intel on suspicious activity and vehicle sightings makes the entire area harder to target.

Reinforce Cyber and Communication Security
Modern farms are increasingly digital. Protect Wi-Fi networks, secure access to surveillance feeds, and limit who has remote access to machinery data. Criminals are increasingly tech-savvy — your systems need to be too.

Train Staff and Family Members
Everyone on the estate should know how to spot reconnaissance behaviour, respond to a break-in, and avoid predictable routines. Human error remains a major vulnerability — awareness training can close that gap.

Implement Rapid Incident Response Protocols
Have a clear plan in place for what to do if there is a theft, trespass, or other security breach. This includes who to contact, how to preserve evidence, and how to respond safely.

Use Drones for Aerial Surveillance
Especially for larger or more remote properties, drones can help monitor vast areas quickly and gather evidence. A drone equipped with infrared or thermal imaging can also detect intruders at night.

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Conclusion

At Marengo, we understand that farms are not just beautiful landscapes or places of work — they are the cornerstone of British society. They sustain our way of life, support rural communities, and play a critical role in ensuring national food security. As such, protecting them is not simply a matter of individual interest, but of national importance. In the face of increasingly organised rural crime, safeguarding our agricultural heartlands has never been more urgent. By investing in robust security measures, landowners can help protect what matters most — for their families, their communities, and the country as a whole. Our team at Marengo stands ready to support you every step of the way.

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Sources:

1)     Politico, Police believe Ukraine war has triggered a crime wave … in rural England,2023., (by Sebastian Whale) - https://www.politico.eu/article/farm-machinery-gps-theft-uk-rural-crime-ukraine-russia-war-sanctions/

2)    NFU, Defra stats reveal fly-tipping cases on the rise, 2025. https://www.nfuonline.com/updates-and-information/fly-tipping-statistics-for-england/

NFU, Rural Crime Report 2024. https://indd.adobe.com/view/c0390862-4c44-43f7-963f-b7347865cfed