Rural theft in Kent is among the highest in the country, costing farmers almost £2 million last year alone.

New figures have revealed farms across the county have been hit harder than ever in recent years, with the cost of crime rising by more than a third since 2021.

Kent currently sits fifth out of all the counties in England for the highest cost of rural crime, with farmers losing just over £1,895,000 worth of equipment in 2022.

This is only just behind North Yorkshire (£1.91m), and above Staffordshire (£1.69m), according to the statistics from the NFU Mutual, the insurance company for the farming world.

While this figure is 37% larger than 2021, this is significantly smaller growth than other counties – with North Yorkshire, Shropshire and Cambridgeshire all seeing figures more than double.

Steve Jones, who farms at Harvel House Farm in Meopham, told kmfm one of the biggest problems for farmers was the theft of smaller items.

“We get loads of stuff stolen, all sorts of stuff – and the biggest problem is that it is rarely big stuff, although I know people who have had expensive things taken,” he said.

“But it’s mostly little bits, which by the time you do your insurance you don’t get paid out for because you have a bigger excess than that. Gates or electric fencing equipment… they go in dribs and drabs all the time.

“They steal it so they can sell it, and that’s where the real bother comes, people are willing to buy it even though we take all sorts of precautions [to make it clear it’s ours], like burning our postcode into it.”

George Ashby, partner at NFU Mutual Ashford, Tenterden & Whitfield, said: “Highly-organised gangs are causing disruption to farming and widespread concern to people who live and work in the countryside.

“Rural theft is changing. It is not only opportunist thieves travelling a few miles, we are now seeing internationally organised criminal activity. These gangs target high-value farm machinery and GPS kits because they can be sold all over the world.

“Many items are stolen ‘to order’ by thieves using online technology to identify where farm machinery is stored and scope out the best way to steal it. They will also spend hours watching the movement of farming families to work out the best time to attack.

“Loss of vital machinery and GPS equipment causes huge disruption to farmers who are already stretched to the limit and replacing kit in the current economic situation can take months, adding additional stress.

“Those targeted by criminals may often second guess themselves in the aftermath of an incident as well as live in fear of repeat attacks on what is not only their workplace, but also their family home.

“That’s why we are working with farmers to help protect their livelihoods, sharing our advice and expertise as the main insurer of the UK’s farmers and offering support.”