Farm fuel thefts spike in UK as diesel and oil soar

Farm fuel thefts spike in UK as diesel and oil soar

UK farm fuel theft has more than doubled in both cost and frequency during the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same period last year.

The figures from the NFU Mutual rural crime report revealed that farm fuel theft is on the rise, driven by criminal gangs roaming more freely following the end of pandemic restrictions and soaring prices for diesel and oil.

Theft of diesel, heating oil and other fuel dropped slightly from 2020 to 2021. However, NFU Mutal stated that first quarter statistics showed that thieves were making up for lost time over the pandemic, with overall costs for theft over 40% higher than in the first quarter of 2021.

Rural residents are becoming increasingly concerned about the rising crime rates. According to NFU Mutual’s recent poll, 89% of respondents in rural communities are worried that inflation and the increased cost of living will result in a rise in rural crime.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the cost of rural crime in the UK declined by 9.3%, inthe second annual fall since the start of the pandemic.