Ten tips to reduce the risk of rural crime

Rural crime is a big issue for those working in agriculture or other land-based sectors. Crime costs these industries millions of pounds each year in the theft of high-value equipment, as well as the necessary repairs involved and lost production time.

With the area we cover stretching from Salisbury to Basingstoke, to Andover across to Newbury, we are often asked to provide security services for farms, businesses and private residences in rural settings. From routine patrols to rapid response teams linked to CCTV and alarm systems, Venture offers a range of services to help protect individuals and businesses from rural crime.

As such, we’re looking forward to attending the CLA Rural Crime Conference on 27 March at Sparsholt College near Winchester, and thought we’d take the opportunity to offer some tips on how those living and working in rural communities can help prevent crime in their area:

1. Be vigilant. It’s up to those working, living, and enjoying leisure time in our rural towns and villages to keep an eye out for anything or anyone suspicious. What kind of activity should you look out for? Anyone taking photographs of entrances or farm equipment, ‘scoping out’ a location, trespassing onto private property or showing an interest in fuels or chemicals stored on-site.
    
2. Report it! If you see something strange, don’t go home and ponder over whether you should act on it – call 101 immediately or 999 if a crime is actually underway. It is a huge help if you have any details such as registration numbers and physical descriptions for the police to go on, but NEVER endanger yourself by trying to take pictures of potential criminals or gain more information about what’s taking place.
    
3. Join a Country Watch or Farm Watch scheme. These will help everyone in your area keep their properties safe. You can find more details of the Country Watch and Farm Watch schemes already established in Surrey, Hampshire and Wiltshire.
    
4. Stay secure. Ensure that all windows and locks are fully-functional. Fit good quality British Standard deadlocks to all external doors on your house and ensure a good quality fitting of double glazed windows (also lockable). When it comes to outbuildings, barns and workshops, pay close attention to keeping doors and padlocks in good repair – don’t give criminals easy access! There is a wide range of security accessories available, including metal bars for windows or locking bars for doors.
    
5. Security lighting, monitored alarm and CCTV are well worth the investment. Our mobile response team can act on alarm activations quickly and are equipped to deal with any situation which may arise. It’s also worth investing in lighting timer switches for your home if the property is vacant, to give the impression that activity is taking place in the house.
    
6. Take care with potentially dangerous goods or chemicals. Store fertilisers and fuel in a securely locked compound and if you do have any firearms on site, it is vital that these are kept according to the regulations. For more information, contact your local police department.
    
7. Keep it tidy. Farms can be prone to becoming dumping grounds, giving thieves easy access and also providing cover for any crimes taking place. Do not leave hazardous waste, scrap metal or machinery lying about – keep it secure, or get rid of it!
    
8. Protect your high-value goods. At Venture, we always advise clients with expensive equipment, vehicles or machinery to invest in a tagging system to ensure traceability. It’s also worth keeping a file with details of each piece of equipment you own. For smaller items such as horse tack which will also be attractive to thieves, make sure they are well concealed and securely locked away when not in use.
    
9. Keys. Don’t leave them in your vehicles – place them in a safe when not in use. Consider using hitch locks, wheel clamps or ground anchors to further decrease the chance of your vehicles being stolen.
    
10. Boundary security. Ensure your fencing and gates are secure, block off any unused access points and plant hedging, dig ditches and consider installing a keypad entry system to keep all areas of your property safe. Display security signage to warn potential thieves that they won’t find an easy ride on your premises!

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a chat with a Venture representative at the CLA Rural Crime Conference, give one of our friendly team a call on 0800 021 3949.