Farmers warned over hay thefts

This year's dry spring followed by last year's wet summer have led to a serious shortening of supply which has caused prices to soar by as much as 40 per cent.

Rural crime experts say that farmers, equestrian businesses, smallholders and even children's farms and zoos are all at risk from this type of theft with North Yorkshire and Berkshire identified among the hotspots.

Nicki Whittaker, of rural insurance firm NFU Mutual, said: "With the possibility of hay and straw being in short-supply, and therefore more expensive in the coming months, we are advising customers to think about ways of securing their hay, straw, bedding and forage to avoid the risk of it being stolen."

The trend is said to be likely to escalate if supplies become even more scarce.

To protect supplies, an NFU Mutual spokesman offers the following advice: "Securing the area around the buildings where hay and straw are kept should be a priority. Although hay is a difficult commodity to secure in closed barns, due to its combustible properties, use the best technology you can afford to protect the surrounding area – installing intruder sensors, CCTV cameras and security lighting can all help secure the area.

"Hay and straw stacks in open fields or in roadside barns are particularly vulnerable. One hay producer in Warwickshire has already moved all his hay from a roadside storage facility to his farm following a spate of thefts of small-bale hay.Hay and straw should be removed from fields as soon as possible after harvesting; A quick and simple survey around the farm will identify areas where a thief could strike. If there are certain areas you are unsure about, ask your local crime prevention officer or NFU Mutual adviser for assistance."

Elsewhere, farms are advised to replace or re-site security and warning notices and to mark bales of haylage, bedding and feed which is wrapped in plastic with spray paint or permanent marker to make it identifiable and less attractive to thieves.

The rise in straw thefts comes just weeks after figures showed rural crime to be on the increase, with thefts of tractors and vehicles spearheading the rise.

More than 40m worth of machinery was stolen last year, driven by a new black market trade in tractors being effectively "stolen to order" for immediate export.