RURAL crime increased in the region last year and has cost the local economy millions of pounds.

According to NFU Mutual’s 2017 Rural Crime Report, incidents in the North-East increased by almost nine per cent on 2015 figures at a cost of £7.3m.

In North Yorkshire, rural thefts in 2016 increased by seven per cent on the previous year, costing the county more than £1.1m.

Nationally, although the UK saw a four per cent drop in the cost of rural theft last year, claims have risen sharply in the first half of 2017, raising concerns that a new wave of rural crime is hitting the countryside.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across the region over the last 12 months were all terrain vehicles, quad bikes, tools and 4x4s.

The report reveals that being ‘staked out’ is the biggest worry for rural residents, followed closely by longer police response times in countryside areas.

Criminals continue to target Land Rover Defenders, tractors, tools and livestock despite increased security on farms.

Jayne Watson, NFU Mutual senior agent in the North East, said: “The North-East has seen an increase in rural crime over the last 12 months, as countryside criminals continue to become more brazen and farmers are now having to continually increase security and adopt new ways of protecting their equipment.

“In some parts of the region, farmers are having to turn their farmyards into fortresses to protect themselves from repeated thieves who are targeting quads, tractors and power tools.

“They are using tracking devices on tractors, video and infra-red surveillance in their farm yards and even DNA markers to protect sheep from rustlers.”

Clare Pybus, NFU Mutual senior agent in Whitby, North Yorkshire, added: “The threat of becoming a victim of rural crime, and regular reports of suspicious characters watching farms is causing high levels of anxiety amongst farmers who know their rural location makes them vulnerable to attacks.”

Ms Pybus advised rural residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.