Fermanagh and Omagh had the third highest amount of agricultural crime incidents in 2020.

There were 46 agricultural crimes in the district from January to December of last year. Armagh Banbridge and Cragiavon had the most with 53 while Mid & East Antrim recorded the fewest with 21.

Seven of the policing districts showed a decrease in levels of agricultural crime from January to December 2020, while four showed an increase. Mid & East Antrim had the greatest decrease (25) and Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon had the greatest increase (7).

Agricultural crime rates have continued to fall by 14 per cent in the last 12 months from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, however rural crime costs in Northern Ireland have been increasing by 18 per cent, reaching £3.3 million in 2019 – as thieves target high value farm vehicles, equipment and livestock, with 328 agricultural crimes recorded.

Research from CompareNI.com, based on a sample of nearly 2,000 policies in Northern Ireland, shows that 22.6 per cent of farmers either don’t lock their garages, keeping working vehicles in unlocked garages overnight or leave vehicles out on driveways.

The farm vehicle data, which was compiled across Northern Ireland from 2019 to 2020, shows the average value of a tractor in Northern Ireland is £11,996 – over £2,000 less that the rest of the UK.  Tractors were the most popular type of farm vehicle, making up 70 per cent of all vehicles, followed by a range of smaller groups such as 4x4, digger, harvester, JCB and quad.