Today’s reality is that you just can’t leave your door unlocked or your keys in the ignition of the ute any more.

Crime in rural areas has been in the news again recently, and it’s here to stay. Criminals see many farms as easy pickings.

Know your neighbour

Your neighbours might no longer be farmers – they might be commuting to their workplace in town, and not home during the day. This can make it harder to get to know them, and it also makes their properties attractive targets for opportunistic thieves.

Household contents have increased greatly in value over recent years. And on larger farms with more houses, thieves can potentially achieve a much larger haul in a fairly short space of time.

The flip-side of larger farms with multiple houses is that many farmers are renting them to non-farming people. Again, they could be harder to get to know if they’re not part of the farming community, and farmers are less likely to know what’s happening on their properties as a result.

• Make a point of getting to know your neighbours, exchange contact phone numbers and keep those numbers handy.

• Discuss what you could do to alert or assist each other in an emergency.

• Let neighbours know when you are going on holiday or not at home for a night; ask them to keep an eye on your property when you’re away – and return the favour.

• Start or get involved in a rural neighbourhood support group in your area, and display neighbourhood watch signs on your property to deter would-be thieves.

• Get to know your local police officers – they are there to help you

Keep your eyes peeled

Gangs have become much more active in rural areas of late, with houses left vacant at risk of being used in illegal activity such as methamphetamine production.

According to a recent Otago Daily Times article, the trend of people inaccurately describing their living situations to get a rental property has grown significantly.

Dunedin police had dealt with drug offending, theft, burglary, driving offences and family violence where tenants had misrepresented themselves to get a rental property lease.

• Be observant and tell the police about things that seem to be out of the ordinary – information that seems insignificant to you could be the piece of the puzzle that helps to stop criminal activity.

• If you have a local police rural liaison officer, they will welcome (and keep confidential) any information regarding suspicious vehicles or people in the area.

• Never rent a property to someone without meeting all tenants; insist on references and set clear rules about sub-letting.

Stay a step ahead of criminals

A Rural News article earlier this year quoted Waikato police who had noticed changing crime patterns in hard economic times.

The types of items stolen from farms has changed as times have become tougher, with criminals focusing on easily removed items that can be sold on for quick cash or as payment for drugs – for example frozen meat, other food, alcohol, firearms and tools. At the other end of the scale, thieves have shown renewed interest in ATVs and other farm bikes. Farm and roadmaking equipment left out in the open is also a soft target for theft or fuel theft.

• Install security devices such as cameras and sensors on your property. Battery powered devices have come a long way and systems are now available with a pager or text message to your phone to alert you of a security breach.

• Make sure your house is safely locked when you’re not home and at night, and lock vehicles. Store keys safely elsewhere.

• Fit quality locks to doors and windows and your houses, sheds and garages, and use good quality chains and padlocks to secure gates and doors without locks.

• Build a fenced-in security area that can be chained and padlocked to store large plant and equipment, particularly trailers and mowers that could be towed.

• Build equipment and fuel storage facilities visible from the house and install sensor lights on sheds and storage areas.

Stay safe

Finally, police advise that you should not compromise your safety by attempting to physically prevent a crime, or opening the door to strangers or allowing them inside unless you have established that it is safe to do so.

If you see an intruder, lock the doors and call your neighbour to alert them. You should also call the police if you feel that you’re in danger.

• Install a peep-hole in your front door.

• Apply for a RAPID number from your local council. As part of the process, a GPS reading is taken and a plate provided for your farm gate so that emergency services can correctly identify your property in an emergency.

• Download a copy of ‘Staying Safe in Rural New Zealand’ from www.police.govt.nz/safety/rural.html

FMG recommends farmers make all efforts possible to deter criminal activity by reducing the attractiveness of rural property as an easy target and by building and maintaining strong neighbour relationships and community networks.