Fast Facts: Trends in Agricultural Crime in the UK
More than 65 percent of the United Kingdom is composed of farmland. Whether it’s a single-family farm or part of industrialized agriculture, farmers heavily invest in livestock and equipment, which makes the farms attractive targets for criminals. Stolen livestock and equipment are sold in illicit marketplaces and, sometimes, stolen equipment is used to facilitate additional criminal activity.
Quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are often essential means of transportation for accessing remote or unpaved areas in farmland. But those same qualities of access and efficiency make those bikes and ATVs highly attractive to thieves.
NFU Mutual, a rural insurer in the UK, conducts an annual assessment of rural crimes. Watch the video below to learn about recent trends.
Additional Resources
Rural Crime Report 2026, NFU Mutual
“How to improve farm security,” NFU Mutual
“Criminal group responsible for theft of agricultural devices rolled up,” Eurojust, 3 December 2025.
