Rural crime has been an ever-increasing issue for the farming community over the past few years. In this article we offer helpful advice about how owners can improve farm security, deter thieves, and reduce crime.
Due to the remote locations of farms, criminals see these sites as easy pickings. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly important to find ways to improve farm security.
As par for the course, farms are often situated miles away from the nearest police station, especially those in isolated areas. For a criminal, this spells one thing; opportunity.
You’ll be pleased to know, today’s article in improving your farm’s security measures, is backed by experience. Safeguard Systems have designed and installed a range of farm security systems, so we are well versed in the threats you face.
Table of contents
Reasons to improve your farm’s security measures
To summarise, expensive farm equipment and machinery can fetch a pretty penny on the black market.
Furthermore, criminals also target quad bikes, which are now especially common in farms.
Moreover, that’s not even mentioning livestock theft, trespass and vandalism.
The different ways to improve farm security
From a security point of view, there is a range of recommended systems and measures that altogether help deter and reduce the impact of crime.
In this article, we are focusing on six key ways to improve farm security covering:
- Reviewing your current security systems
- Specialist farm CCTV cameras & alarms
- Remote CCTV monitoring systems
- Deploying security lighting
- Vehicle protection solutions
- Perimeter protection & detection
Now let’s look at the different ways to improve your farm’s security measures.
1. Review your farm’s current security systems
Before investing in future security measures take these two steps.
- Understand what you currently have in placw already
- If it is fit for purpose and meets your requirements
Firstly, put yourself in the shoes of a typical criminal.
how easy are you making it for a thief to gain entry to your land?
Also, do you have any damaged fences, especially close to key areas?
How many potential unprotected access points are there?
Do you deadlock your outbuildings overnight?
How about the hinges? Are they loose, rusting, and not up to the job?
Related reading: Farm security checklist
2. Effective CCTV and alarm systems
Securing your outbuildings is one thing. If an intruder manages to breach your perimeter, how can you deter them from carrying out their crimes?
Doors to buildings should have alarms.
CCTV cameras need to be able to provide surveillance of any vulnerable areas, and key access points.
If you are currently considering security cameras for you farm, find out more about the range of commercial CCTV systems we design and install.
Farms often have budget constraints. If you are in charge of a farm, Hikvision has a range of CCTV cameras perfectly suited to those watching the pennies.
For farms focused on improving security, Safeguard Systems also recommends three other CCTV manufacturers and brands.
They are:
Investing in CCTV is certainly one of the best ways to improve farm security.
3. Remote CCTV monitoring
Larger farms with onsite guards should consider CCTV monitoring as it can vastly reduce the costs of, and improve security.
- Learn more: CCTV monitoring for farms
In 24/7 remote CCTV monitoring services, CCTV cameras have sensors fitted. If the system is triggered an alarm signal is sent to your off-site team. The footage is viewed remotely, and if a threat is spotted, the relevant authorities are called.
In many cases, monitored CCTV systems can reduce the cost of security by up to 80%.
CCTV monitoring related reading
Interested to learn more about CCTV monitoring?
Here are a couple of articles we have published on the topic.
How does CCTV monitoring work?
CCTV monitoring blog round-up: benefits, costs, FAQs and more
A recent article in Farmers Weekly highlights how thieves are now scoping out farms using drones. Where there is a will (and technology) there is a way, it would seem.
4. Security lighting
Installing security lights around buildings and in yards can be an effective deterrent and a way of protecting your farm against security threats.
When triggered, the thief should know they are light on time (no pun intended) and should make a hasty retreat.
5. Protecting vehicles & machinery
Farm machinery and vehicles have a high resale value, especially on the black market. As a result of taking the steps to improve the quality of security measures in place at your farm, you will reduce the risk of theft.
Forklift trucks, quad bikes, diggers, horseboxes, rotavators, tractors, and other machinery are all targeted by thieves.
Many of these are essential to the smooth running of a farm, therefore reinforcing the need to invest in upgrading your farm’s security measures where possible.
In summary, here are some of the measures we recommend taking on a daily basis:
- Lock all vehicles and hide the keys
- For vehicles stored outside, fit steering locks
- Fit GPRS trackers
- Chain up machinery and tractors
Back in 2021, rural crime was a real issue, with criminals regularly targeting farms. Police established a new unit to target theft on farms and construction sites.
6. Perimeter security, protection and detection
A major reason thieves target farms is due to their vast perimeters. Lots of land owners leave their boundaries unsecured.
There are a number of ways to deal with this and therefore, improving your farm’s security.
Perimeter fencing acts as the first line of defence, deterring thieves and intruders from entering your land.
Additionally, perimeter protection and detection systems can alert security to an attempted break-in.
Geo-fencing, and perimeter beams can trigger the alarm.
If you are currently concerned about potential breaches, find out more about our perimeter security systems. In summary, as your first line of defence against crime, securing your boundaries with well designed perimeter protection systems is a solid investment.
Related reading: The different types of perimeter security
How do you improve your farm’s security? A quick recap
So, there we go: a range of ways of improving security and site protection for your farm.
To summarise the key ways to improve your farm’s security are:
- Evaluate your current situation
- Invest in specialist CCTV cameras
- Deploy alarms & intruder detection
- Invest in CCTV monitoring systems
- Protect boundaries with perimeter security
- Use well positioned security lights
In the last section of this guide to upgrading your security systems, we look at the latest edition of NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report.
NFU rural crime report 2024
The latest rural crime report by the NFU highlighted a number of critical issues, especially facing rural communities.
Here are five key statistics from NFU Mutual’s 2024 Rural Crime Report:
- Rural crime cost the UK an estimated £52.8 million in 2023, a 4.3% increase from the previous year.
- Furthermore, GPS unit thefts rose by 137% in 2023, reaching an estimated eye watering £4.2 million in financial losses.
- Quad bike and ATV thefts increased by 9%, with claim costs estimated at a significant £3.2 million compared to previous figures
- Additionally, livestock theft remained high on the list of crimes impacting rural communities in 2023, with an estimated cost of £2.7 million across the UK.
- Farm animals worth an estimated £2.4 million were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year.
The figures are quite astonishing.
In fact, the team at Safeguard Systems have put together our own overview of the latest rural crime report.
Is now a good time to be thinking about improving farm security, and protecting your assets, livestock, and premises?
Looking to secure your farm?
Find out more about our dedicated security systems for farms
