THE cost of rural crime in Dorset rose by more than 10 per cent last year, according to the National Farmers' Union.

With thieves chiefly targeting tools, garden equipment and quad bikes, rural crime cost the county £605,000 in 2016, compared with £550,000 the year before, the NFU Mutual annual Rural Crime Report claims.

The report is based on national crime statistics.

And the report also shows a sharp spike in such offences during the first half of 2017.

Simon Godding, the NFU Mutual Agent in Wareham, said: "Rural crime in Dorset has been on the rise during the last 12 months, as countryside criminals are becoming more brazen and farmers are now having to continually increase security and adopt new ways of protecting their equipment.

"In some parts of the county, 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 farmyards and even DNA markers to protect sheep from rustlers."

The report says theft claims statistics show a rise of 20 per cent nationally, raising concerns that a new wave of rural crime is hitting the countryside.

To help raise awareness, NFU Mutual recently sponsored Dorset Police’s ‘Robocrop’ tractor, which is touring rural shows and events through the summer.

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

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

"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," added Mr Godding.

"Our advice to people living and working in the countryside is to regularly evaluate your current security measures making improvements where necessary, remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the local police and local farm watch schemes."

For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime download the report at nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime