CONCERTED efforts to tackle rural crime has seen the cost to the county fall by more than £100,000 last year while the challenges to police are changing.

Rural crime cost Wiltshire £840,000 in 2014, down from £1 million in 2013.

Despite the fall, 2014 saw thieves continue to target expensive all terrain vehicles (ATVs) as well as tools.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across Wiltshire over the past 12 months were tools, garden equipment, quadbikes and machinery.

Reflecting the changing nature of rural crime, in a survey of NFU Mutual’s nationwide network of branch offices, 63 per cent of those surveyed said that cybercrime is a growing problem for rural communities while recent claims data also shows thieves are taking advantage of new targets such as solar panels.

Jonathan Price, National Farmers’ Union Mutual senior agent in Wiltshire, said: “That there’s been an overall decline in the cost of rural crime over the last 12 months is welcome and reflects the huge efforts being made by communities and others to tackle this problem.

“Initiatives aimed at reducing livestock theft and installing Cesar tracking for agricultural vehicles are having a real impact and making life increasingly difficult for rural criminals.

“That said, problem areas remain and thieves continue to exploit weaknesses such as around ATVs and tools.

“So, while today’s survey contains some good news, it also highlights the need for rural communities to remain vigilant and put security at the forefront of their minds.”

Wiltshire Police chief constable Mike Veale said: “Policing a rural area offers unique challenges.

The huge geographic areas covered by rural forces and the vast array of road networks weaving through the countryside means many criminals feel rural crime provides easier pickings.

“Add to this the increasing sophistication of organised criminals profiting from crime, such as theft of agricultural plant, livestock, farm vehicles and machinery, means that some rural communities may feel a heightened sense of vulnerability and fear of crime.

“For years now, policing teams in Wiltshire have been highly creative and innovative in the way they tackle crime in their rural communities.

“At Wiltshire Police we have developed a rural crime strategy.

We have a dedicated team working in rural communities with excellent working knowledge.”

For more information, visit nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime.