Gangs in Britain are stealing farm machinery to sell to Russia.
The rise is rural crime comes after the West imposed sanctions following Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The tractor thieves have expanded their usual operations from the East of England to the North and Scotland.
Supt Andy Huddleston, the head of the National Rural Crime Unit, said:
“Without doubt, the war in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia are having an impact on rural crime in the UK.
“Whenever you have a country that cannot import machinery and equipment, the black market will flourish.”
Machinery theft in England and Wales has soared by more than 300 per cent in the first quarter of the year.
It has also risen in the rest of Europe.
Supt Huddlestone said:
“We would normally expect to see around 70 high-value agricultural vehicles being stolen across the country each month but in March we recorded the theft of 180.”
Rural crime is already a major problem in Britain.
Most equipment stolen is shipped overseas
Supt Huddleston said:
“The numbers that we are seeing are way beyond what has gone on in the past.
“It is clear that what is happening in Ukraine is driving it,”
Insurance group NFU Mutual has issued a warning ahead of the harvest season as equipment is more vulnerable to thefts.
Rebecca Davidson, rural affairs specialist at NFU Mutual, said:
“Intelligence suggests these criminal gangs are watching farms and using drones in some cases to find farm equipment fitted with GPS and return at night.”
The National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Mutual and representatives from 40 police forces have discussed the crime wave sweeping rural Britain.
Apart from the theft of machinery there have been reports of rustling and industrial fly-tipping.
David Exwood, the NFU vice-president, said:
“Highly organized gangs are hurting farm businesses, farming families and rural communities, both financially and emotionally.”