Crimestoppers has today launched a campaign to tackle rural crime in Herefordshire as figures reveal theft cost the county’s rural community £610,000 last year, based on theft claims dealt with by NFU Mutual .

Opportunistic criminals are targeting buildings with poor security in isolated areas to steal items that can be easily sold.

Hand-held power tools are particularly attractive to thieves, along with garden equipment, trailers, farming materials and riding equipment.

Criminals have also been known to take livestock as well as metal and even fuel from home heating and farm storage tanks.

But offences are not limited to theft - rural communities are also affected by poaching, hare-coursing as well as issues like cannabis cultivation.

Last year 30% of all crime in Herefordshire occurred in rural areas and it can have a hugely negative impact on communities.

Crimestoppers is hoping to help stamp it out by making the public aware of the issue and encouraging more people to speak out about the perpetrators.

Jane McCann, chair of Crimestoppers’ volunteer committee in West Mercia, said: “Many people assume that quiet and peaceful rural communities are not affected by crime but this isn’t the case.

“Isolated areas where buildings have little or no security are often seen as easy targets by criminals.

“It can have a seriously negative impact on the victim and the community as a whole.

“We hope this campaign will help make communities safer by raising awareness.

“Most importantly, we also want to encourage anyone who has information about those committing crime to contact us anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

“We do not take personal details or record calls. We can’t trace calls or information given online.

“We don’t want to know who you are, just what you know. Help to keep your community safe.”

Malcolm Watkins, from NFU Mutual, added: “One of the rural community’s best assets is its people who can work together to safeguard the local neighbourhood.

“It is extremely important that all suspicious matters and crimes are reported through local policing networks or anonymously through Crimestoppers.”

If you have information about rural crime, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill in an anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

For more information about rural crime, visit www.crimestoppers-uk/ruralcrime