Rural crime cost East of England almost £7m last year

Rural crime cost the East of England more than £6,920,000 last year, up 21.8 percent from 2017, according to a new report.

The 2019 Rural Crime Report, published by rural insurer NFU Mutual, looks at the impact that crime is having on rural communities up and down the UK.

• Click below for Graham Stothard's report from Northamptonshire

Overall, the findings reveal that rural crime cost the UK £50m in 2018, an increase of 12 percent on the previous year and the highest overall cost in seven years.

The firm says the sharp rises are being driven mainly by high value thefts of tractors, quad bikes and other farm vehicles - up 26% to £7.4m in 2018.

The items most commonly targeted by thieves across the East over the last 12 months were tools, garden equipment and machinery.

• Click below for Raveena Ghattaura's report from Essex