Cheshire countryside hit by crime wave

Insurer NFU Mutual has recorded almost 13.5 percent increase in theft in the past 12 months.

The insurer has gone on to claim that figures show that rural crime is at its highest levels for five years.

The dramatic rise in crime figures sees those living and working in rural being urged to step up security to protect their property.

Thefts are the biggest issue, with items ranging from tools and machinery, through to much larger hauls involving quad bikes, vehicles and tractors all being reported as stolen and adding to the cost of rural crime.

Concerns are also being raised by the increasing sophistication being shown by criminals in defeating electronic security protecting those more high value items.

Rural Affairs Specialist Tim Price suggests farmers and home owners should look to fit gates wherever possible to restrict access, and he also says is one of the most effective methods of deterrence. Other suggestions include using steering locks to deter vehicle crime.

However, Tim also says that criminals are aware that police response times are much slower than they used to be, due to budget cuts and the closure of rural community police stations.

Tim went on to say: "Criminals are using this knowledge that police resources are very stretched. They're targeting rural areas where it will be a longer spell of time before officers can arrive at a crime scene."