Farmers are seen as “soft targets” by thieves who are increasingly being driven to crime by the rising cost of living, says Federated Farmers.
Statistics supplied by rural insurer FMG reveal theft and burglary claims lodged last year were at a five-year high.
Figures for the 12 months ending October 2022 show the company settled 1283 claims lodged for theft and burglaries from rural properties throughout New Zealand. That compared with 1182 the previous 12 months, 1162 in 2020, 1232 in 2019 and 1085 in 2018.
FMG declined to say how much last year’s claims cost the company, but its Rural Crime Prevention Advice Guide says it paid out $21 million in burglary and theft claims over a five-year period.
“It’s not unexpected when you consider the cost of living has risen,” said Federated Farmers’ dairy industry group chair, Richard McIntyre.
“People are looking for alternative ways to make some money and farmers are often seen as soft targets. You also have to remember a lot of this crime goes unreported.”
The increase has prompted Feds to launch another joint rural crime survey with police in March and April, just two years after the previous one.
The 2021 survey drew responses from more than 1200 farmers. Over half – 52% – said they had been affected by crime in the previous two years. That was up 10% on the 2016 survey and McIntyre, who has the Feds’ rural policing portfolio, said he expects those figures will be even higher this year.
He said the survey data is vital as it highlights crime trends and regions of concern. This enables Feds to advocate with police over what resources are required, and where.
“Police don’t know if we don’t respond,” he said.
Asked if police are doing enough to protect farmers, McIntyre said they “need to be appropriately resourced to do their job and I’m not sure they are, across the board”.
McIntyre said he has heard of an instance where a tractor was stolen but, more often than not, thieves are taking smaller items.
“It’s the chainsaws, motorbikes, tools and fuel. Those things that can easily be converted into cash.”
He encouraged farmers to install security cameras – and signage alerting thieves to the cameras – and said it is also important to notify police of suspicious activity.
Drones are increasingly being used to case properties. McIntyre said there have also been instances of would-be thieves calling at farms, claiming they are lost or looking for work. He urged farmers to take note of vehicles and registration plates, and report these to the police.
Livestock thefts continue to be an ongoing issue. Thefts of large quantities of stock make national headlines, but most stock thefts never make it into the public arena.
“Some people treat farmers’ stock like going to the supermarket or butchery. They will take just one or two sheep out of a paddock on a regular basis.
“When you’ve got thousands of sheep it’s hard to keep track of them all.”
McIntyre warned stock thieves that they could be putting themselves at risk. If stolen stock have recently been drenched they are under withholding periods, which makes the meat unsafe to eat.
FMG’s manager of advice services, Angela Taylor, said there are steps farmers can take to prevent becoming an easy target for thieves.
“Lock houses and buildings, and the fuel tanks too – even though it seems like you’re isolated on farm or on the lifestyle block.
“Criminals prey on you feeling safe and not protecting yourself. Put the valuables away and make sure that the shed is locked too.”
Taylor said farmers should take the keys out of the vehicles at night and when they will be left unattended for long periods.
“Yes, it may be annoying. But no way near as annoying as trying to muster or bring the cows in on foot the next day because someone pinched the bike overnight.”
