NFU Mutual goes green on rural crime prevention

NFU Mutual, has today revealed that its network of more than 300 offices based across the rural community, think that crime in the countryside is on the increase. In fact, nine out of ten believe it is on the up, with 93% saying that local people are now more concerned about rural crime than in the past.

Based on their local knowledge, more than half of the offices surveyed (57%) think that both crimes against the home and garden crime are increasing in their area. The biggest perceived increase however is in vehicle crime, with 80% saying that this is on the rise in rural areas.

Laura Wood at NFU Mutual commented, “Our risk management team are now seeing more opportunistic theft taking place – with thieves prowling the countryside for high value portable items which they can get hold of easily and sell on quickly.”

Green deterrents

Despite this apparent increase in rural crime, a third (33%) of offices said that worryingly, the people in their community are not becoming more security conscious.

Wood continues, “We recommend that people take a look at the impression their property would give to a would-be thief on the look out for their next target. Locked gates, warning stickers in windows and evidence of alarms and security lights all help to persuade opportunist thieves to try their luck elsewhere. Equally the presence of a barking dog, geese, a noisy gravel drive and prickly bushes around ground floor windows can all help to put thieves off.”

In fact, 60% of local offices think that alternative, greener security measures such as prickly bushes are now an effective deterrent to rural thieves.

Other security measures recommended by NFU Mutual:

Install an alarm system accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) and use an installer certified by a recognised approval body such as NSI (National Security Inspectorate)

Fit and use insurance approved (BS3621:2004) security locks to all perimeter doors

Fit and use window security locks on ground floor windows and accessible first floor windows

Fit security heavy-duty padlocks to garages and other outbuildings

Don't leave valuables on view

Secure ladders and tools out of sight

Security mark valuable property with a substance such as Smartwater

Set timers for lights and radios when you're not at home

Keep large sums of cash or jewellery in suitable safe protection

Keep garden tools secure and out of sight

Consider outside security lighting protection, suitably installed and located

Wood concludes, “The value of the rural garden is also on the up. People may potentially be spending more on state of the art barbecues, expensive garden furniture, tools and in some cases, valuable statues. When taking out home insurance, people often forget about sheds, stores and gardens. Although many home insurance policies will cover garden thefts, if you have some particularly valuable items then you should probably specify them on your policy individually.”

NFU Mutual offers home insurance specifically designed to protect rural properties - whether it's a semi-detached property in the suburbs or a cottage in the countryside. NFU Mutual’s ‘Premier Home’ insurance covers the contents in your garden as well as your home and provides up to £10,000 cover for home office equipment like laptops and printers

NFU Mutual also offers high value home insurance for people with possessions worth over £100,000 and this provides garden cover (up to £10,000 for contents such as furniture and stone ornaments, plus up to £5,000 for trees, plants and shrubs) too.