A FARMER from Dorset had £12,000 worth of equipment stolen last year, as a new report reveals an increase in the cost of rural crime in the south west.  

NFU Mutual has recently revealed the findings of the Rural Crime Report, which showed that the cost of rural crime in the south west has increased by 42%. 

According to the figures, rural crime cost the south west an estimated £7million in 2023, which is up 41.9% from 2022. 

Beef farmer Paul had cattle handling equipment, worth £12,000, stolen from a field in Dorset last year. The cattle crush, hurdles, guillotine gates and veterinary equipment box were set up in a field away from the farm to enable easy access for TB testing. 

NFU Mutual explained that farmers in high-risk TB areas must regularly have their cattle tested, and having equipment close to the herd avoids having to move the livestock too far away, which can be distressing. 

Paul drove to the yard to check the equipment last August and found it had been stolen. He believes the thieves used lifting equipment and a lorry but so far, despite reporting the theft to the police, there has been no breakthrough in the investigation.

“I bowled up to where the equipment was and opened the gate and I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said.

“It had all gone. This is not something four or five blokes could lift into the back of a Ford Transit.

“The good thing was the efficiency of the NFU Mutual. I discovered the loss in the August and the test was in September.

“Mercifully NFU Mutual were very swift in coming out and assessing the loss and coming up with the money.  Luckily the items I needed were in stock and available quickly enough to hit the TB test date.”