Insurance group NFU Mutual have highlighted the latest trend in livestock rustling in the UK, recent thefts include 2000 game birds and 600 piglets. High meat prices and the current economic situation have led to an increase in animal rustling and subsequently an increase in claims from farmers.
In recent incidents nine rare breed cattle were taken from a farm in Lincolnshire, while horses and ponies have been reported stolen in Hampshire and Northamptonshire. Sheep thefts have been reported in Wales, Yorkshire and in the West country.
It is believed that farms are being targeted by professional thieves in what is considered by the NFU to be the ‘latest trend.’ NFU spokesman Tim Farmer says that thieves are quick to catch on to what is valuable in the market place, “Last year it was oil, before that it was scrap metal.”
1 comment so far
1 Tudor Gibson // Apr 8, 2010 at 4:25 pm
I can see the problem of livestock rustling increasing as food prices will only rise with higher fuel prices etc. I have been looking at farm security and have come up with some innovative ideas for agricultural situations.