The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) is reminding members that Crimestoppers UK has a dedicated hotline for reporting rural crime and providing information about felony incidents.

“Rural crime is on the rise, with high-value items such as tractors, quad bikes and indeed livestock falling victim to the actions of rural thieves,” said UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt.

“These crimes have left farmers and rural dwellers feeling isolated and anxious in their own homes and farms, not to mention the devastating impact on the local area.

"This is why the Crimestoppers UK hotline is an essential 24/7 service for the rural community, providing support and help in the unfortunate event of a theft."

Report it

He encouraged all UFU members and anyone in the rural community who has been a victim of rural crime to report the incident to the PSNI for investigation, regardless of the value of the item or livestock stolen.

“If you have information that would help the PSNI to bring the perpetrators of rural thefts to justice, please lift the phone and contact Crimestoppers,” he said.

“Any amount of information, no matter how small it may seem, may prove valuable to the PSNI when investigating rural crimes.”

Crime stoppers is an independent charity, working with rural communities to prevent rural crime and can be used to report crimes such as machinery theft, livestock theft, hare coursing and fly tipping.

Hotline: 0800 783 0137

Members can also access the National Farmers Union’s new rural crime hub for advice on rural crime prevention.