FARMERS lost out on nearly half a million pounds in the past year after the cost of rural crime soared.

Figures published today by NFU Mutual suggest the financial impact of crimes in West Sussex was up a “staggering” 96 per cent.

The insurer analysed statistics from claims it received from farmers to estimate the cost offences were having on the county at £440,000 in 2016. This was an increase from £220,000 in 2015.

Quad bikes, machinery, and tools were top of thieves’ wish lists, with vandalism and burglary most likely, it was claimed.

On taking office in 2012, Sussex police and crime commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne pledged to treat rural crime as seriously as urban crime.

But one victim The Argus spoke to was not convinced her plan had been successful thus far.

Thieves stole nearly a thousand live shotgun cartridges and other equipment to the value of £500 from David Rees at the end of April. The farmer, who runs a clay pigeon shooting business on land near Gatwick Airport on the Sussex/Surrey border, found storage outhouses ransacked. Police investigated after the cartridges fell in to the hands of children who came across them dumped nearby.

Mr Rees said he did not want to claim on his insurance for fear his premium would go up next year so replaced all the materials himself at a cost.

The 72-year-old, from Charlwood, added: “The police checked for finger prints but the thieves wore gloves and the CCTV footage was dark so you could only see shadows of people with their hoods up. Then they closed the case.

“Since then I’ve heard of a few other farms nearby being broken in to. I think it is getting worse. I haven’t experienced any improvements since 2012. More police presence or even some more CCTV on the roads would help.”

Police officials stressed there was no indication of how many crimes were linked to the costs and suggested expensive items from a small number of crimes may be behind the figure.

Actual crime statistics for the period are not yet available and the NFU would not say how many claims this figure related to.

Mrs Bourne said: “I absolutely recognise the impact rural crime has on farmers and their families, many of whom rely on specialist vehicles and equipment to sustain their livelihoods and Sussex Police continue to work closely with our rural communities. NFU Mutual’s theft claims estimates for the first half of 2017 suggest we are starting to see a rise in claims nationally.

“That is why I would urge those who live and work in our rural communities to follow Sussex Police advice on the ways in which they can protect themselves and their property from crime.

“The report shows last year the financial impact of rural crime has fallen, nationally, by 4.3 per cent and it is encouraging Sussex doesn’t even feature in the top 30 worst affected counties.”

Sussex Police said they treated rural crime “as seriously as any other” and urged people to report crime and suspicious behaviour in the hope of building an accurate picture of offending.

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DESPITE costs falling nationally - and in the South East region - by 4 per cent last year, they have risen sharply again in the first half of this year, the figures released as part of NFU Mutual's annual report said.

In East Sussex the cost stayed broadly the same in comparison to 2015 at about £240,000 and insurers were indicating a 1.5 per cent drop over the period.

Alastair McAloon, who works for the insurer in Pulborough, said countryside criminals were becoming "more brazen" and farmers were having to turn their "farmyards into fortresses" to protect themselves from repeat offenders.

Sussex Police said it was difficult to link the figures with its own and more information was needed to assess them together.