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I wanted to provide you with an update regarding Rural Crime e.g. farm equipment theft, wildlife crime, animal thefts, which people around your area have highlighted as an issue of concern on the priority survey. 🚨 RURAL THEFT ALERT – PLEASE READ & SHARE 🚨
Over the last 10 days we’ve seen a sharp rise in small plant, quads and Polaris Rangers being stolen across our rural patch. These thefts are targeted, fast and professional.
It’s becoming clear that complacency is creeping in. Please don’t let your guard drop.
🔒 Act NOW to secure your kit:
• Remove keys and store machines out of sight
• Lock up: heavy chains, ground anchors, immobilisers
• Trackers fitted AND activated • CCTV / video doorbells – they’re making a real difference in recent cases
• Good lighting and visible deterrents
• Record serial numbers and photograph your equipment
👀 If something feels off – vehicles cruising slowly, unknown drones, late-night activity – report it immediately. Small details stitch cases together.
📞 REPORT IT:
• 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress
• 101 for non-emergency reports
• Online rural crime reporting for Leicestershire Police:
https://www.leics.police.uk/ro/report/rwc/rural/report-rural-crime/
These thieves are working quickly, methodically, and they WILL keep going if we make it easy.
Thanks all.
![]() Rural crime has no set definition but can be very broadly classified as any crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in rural areas. It is often linked to Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) who target and exploit rural communities across a range of crime types, for example organised plant theft, livestock theft, burglaries targeting firearms, poaching and hare coursing. The NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) has developed a Rural Affairs Strategy which sets out police priorities in this area: - Farm machinery, plant and vehicle theft - including quad bikes, modern and vintage tractors, tools and equipment from outbuildings.
- Livestock offences - including theft, worrying and attacks.
- Fuel theft - including heating oil, diesel and petrol.
- Equine crime - including horse trailer and horse box theft, horse theft, tack theft, fly grazing and neglect.
- Fly tipping - including household and commercial waste, waste through organised criminality.
- Poaching which crosses over with the wildlife priorities - including hare coursing, deer poaching, fish poaching.
- Heritage crime - It is also important to recognise that rural crime and antisocial behaviour have an adverse impact on the historic environment and heritage assets found across the United Kingdom - including the theft of metal from church buildings, unlawful metal detecting and interference with historic shipwrecks.
More information on these issues and prevention advice can be found at Rural crime | Neighbourhood Watch Network If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.leics.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101. Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org. Get Involved Please consider getting involved by registering for these messages, this will enable you to contribute to the local priority survey. We may be unaware of issues that you would like us to focus on. Take a few minutes to securely and privately register and have your say using the button below, this will mean we can focus on things that matter to you. 
Please click here to complete the survey
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