A COUPLE have spoken of the 'shocking' theft of 30 lambs from their farm, as experts warn rural crime is set to increase in the wake of the pandemic.
Hazel and Richard Hoskin, who own a 1,200 acre mixed farm of beef, sheep and arable, had 30 lambs stolen earlier this year. The 12-month-old ewes were herded into a white transit van, which was fitted with fake number plates, and driven away from Maiden Castle Farm near Dorchester.
Richard believes the criminals had planned the theft in advance. He said: "Rounding up that many sheep is not a quick and easy task. It's quite likely they brought dogs with them so they would be able to gather the sheep up quickly."
This is the third time the family have been the victims of livestock theft.
Richard said: "There's been quite a lot of this happening recently in the area so it is a worry for us farmers. It makes me angry that someone could come in and do this. They are pretty clever and obviously know what they are doing."
Rural insurer NFU Mutual has today revealed the cost of rural crime in Dorset fell nearly 38 per cent to an estimated £550,000 in 2020 as Covid restrictions kept criminals out of the countryside.
- READ MORE: 44 lambs stolen from field near Dorchester
Despite this, the cost of animal theft rose by a third compared with the previous year, and other crimes including dog attacks of livestock and fly-tipping rose sharply.
Nationally, rural theft cost the UK an estimated £43.3m in 2020, a fall of 20.3 per cent on the previous year, making it the lowest annual cost recorded in five years.
NFU Mutual and Dorset Police are working together to protect farmers from thieves, as they warn that there could be an increase in rural theft as the economic impact of the pandemic takes its toll.
Matt Uren, NFU Mutual agent in Dorchester, said: "Coronavirus restrictions beefed-up security on farms and Dorset's dedicated rural crime team provided a welcome fall in rural thefts last year.
"While lockdown may have locked some criminals out of the countryside, rural crime hasn't gone away. Thieves are now returning armed with new tactics and targets. As the economic impact of the pandemic bites, we are very concerned that rural theft may escalate significantly.
- READ MORE: Farmer speaks out on rural crime in Dorset
"Last year also saw sharp rises in other crimes such as dog attacks on livestock which cause appalling suffering to farm animals and huge anxiety for farmers and their families as they dealt with the aftermath.
"We are urging the public, many of whom are using the countryside more, to support our farmers and rural communities by reporting suspicious sightings and crimes to the police.
"Our farmers have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic keeping the nation fed and caring for the countryside. By working together we can stem the tide when the criminals become more active again."
Mr Uren added: ""There's no doubt that when we work together with police, farmers, communities and other rural organisations to tackle rural crime, it can make a real difference. That's why we're working closely with Dorset Police and the farming community to share information, help protect property through marking schemes, and raise awareness in as many ways as possible."
Every region across England recorded a reduction in the cost of rural crime in 2020 except the North West, which saw a three per cent rise to £3.7m.
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