Thieves on e-scooters targeting farm equipment as rural gangs have become ‘more sophisticated‘

An increase in pet ownership and trips to the countryside also saw dog attacks on farm animals jump by 60 percent
Rural thefts of modern farming machinery such as GPS systems and quad bikes has risen significantly, an insurer has said.

Gangs dubbed “rural wraiths” have become “more sophisticated,” using e-scooters and other techniques to steal high-value machinery.

Insurance claims for such machinery, including GPS systems, ATVs, quad bikes and tractors remained high despite the total number of claims falling by 20 percent to around £43.3 million in the UK during lockdown last year.