Security increases as crime reaches 'epidemic levels'

Over the last year the theft of machinery from farmyards has risen by nearly six per cent.

The National Farmers' Union has said the problem is now at "epidemic" levels.

Sussex Police are responding to thefts of rural vehicles and equipment by offering the latest technology for marking property.

A special marking solution, known as Smartwater, or Tracer, is being used as part of Operation Coppice, a police initiative to crack down on rural crime.

High performance vehicles are targeted by thieves

The manager of one rural business which has been burgled six times in the last four years has said he might have to leave his Maidstone base.

Thefts at Palmers Agricultural Ltd have cost the company tens of thousands of pounds.

David Wallis says the cost of replacing damaged security fencing and installing further defences is paid for by the firm and not by insurers.

He said: "It gets you down. You hear the alarms go off at night time and it puts a horrible feeling through your stomach. You know you've got to come up here, that the police have been called and that you don't know what you're going to find.

"At the moment, we are absorbing all the costs, but it won't be long before we either start passing it on to the customer or look for other premises, such as an industrial estate with built-in security and one entrance in - but that's not what we want."