Police in Lincolnshire have recovered more than £520,000 worth of stolen farm equipment and vehicles over the past year, highlighting the scale of organized rural crime affecting rural areas.
Lincolnshire Police said the recoveries were carried out by the force’s local crime team between May 2024 and May 2025 and included stolen vehicles, factory machinery and trailers taken from locations across the county.
Inspector Chris Davis of the force’s special operations unit told city council members that recovered items include “approximately 300,000 pounds of vehicles, 150,000 pounds of plant equipment, [and] Trailers worth £70,000,” he said, adding that officers’ intimate knowledge of rural areas had led to many recoveries.
This recovery comes against the backdrop of an increase in rural crime across the country. The latest NFU Inter-Rural Crime Report, published earlier this year, estimated the cost of rural crime across the UK at £44.1 million, with theft of farm machinery and plants among the most significant losses.
Police say criminals often hide stolen equipment before moving it. Inspector Davis said the criminals would “put the tracking devices aside and wait to see if the police come and retrieve them,” adding that they aim to act quickly to return the devices to their owners.
The types of machines covered vary by region. Police say there has been an increase in thefts of small items such as riding lawnmowers and golf buggies in west Lincolnshire. “What we’re seeing at this point is smaller items coming out,” Lt. Davis said.
In the eastern region, large machines are stolen more often. “In the East, you’re seeing larger plants and machinery moving like telehandlers and road rollers,” he says.
Police say Boston, South Holland, North Kesteven and South Kesteven are areas where farm equipment theft is “on the rise”, along with break-ins of country cottages. Officers added that machine theft is often linked to organized crime, such as rabbit trafficking.
Police said efforts to disrupt the activities of local organized crime groups continued, urging farmers and local businesses to report suspicious activity and stressing the importance of local intelligence.
