Countryside properties and farmland are attractive acquisitions for both personal and commercial reasons. However, one should understand the security risks that can affect farms, residential properties and businesses in rural areas before owning one. 

While the overall crime rate in rural areas is generally lower compared to urban areas, government statistics indicate that properties in rural areas, particularly residential buildings, are more vulnerable to theft. Typical targets include farming equipment, machinery, tools, vehicles, fuel and GPS systems. Valuables and art collections kept within the country houses are attractive propositions for criminals, especially if the the properties are vacant for extended periods.

The NFU Mutual Rural Crime Report 2021 found that rural theft in the UK cost an estimated £43.3 million in 2020, a 20 percent decrease from the previous year. However, highly organised criminals continued to steal high-value farming equipment, such as GPS systems, quad bikes and ATVs, with the cost of agricultural vehicle theft remaining over £9 million. 

Apart from these crimes, arson can pose a threat as well. Countryside properties, especially with large arable farms and grasslands, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to fire as we experience more extreme weather variations. Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service estimates that over 1,700 farm buildings and 66,000 grassland areas are destroyed annually by fire in the UK.

While fly-tipping does not have a serious direct effect on folk living in the countryside, data from Countryside Alliance revealed that fly-tipping affects 67 percent of farmers, costing an estimated £47 million annually. 

Mitigating threats and crimes in the countryside

With these threats in mind, it is prudent for property owners to take measures to keep their rural properties safe.

As the first layer of security, property owners can invest in secure fencing. It can protect the properties, livestock, and pets and deter criminals. Choose high-quality materials and strong locks, and regularly maintain or replace damaged fencing. Thick spikey hedges, such as hawthorn, are an effective and natural way of ‘defending’ ones property and creating boundaries. 

If necessary, the number of entryways to the property can be reduced or even singled out to one for easier monitoring. Access controls on main gates, such as a keypad, can also act as extra measures to prevent unwanted visitors from entering the property.

CCTV cameras can be installed in the surrounding property area, with sufficient lighting to ensure clear footage CCTV systems can be  linked with motion sensors and window sensors. Professional security consultants can advise how to create maximum but tasteful CCTV coverage with the minimum investment. 

Intruder detection systems (IDS) generally form the next layer of security. These are commonly linked to or monitored by an alarm receiving centre (ARC), and can be linked to the police so that they are notified immediately. Police response times are generally longer in rural areas, and therefore implementing measures to ‘delay’ criminals is crucial if they are to be apprehended. 

In the knowledge that police responses in the countryside are often too long, many high-net-worth families employ residential security teams to protect their estates. These teams provide 24/7 security. Their roles and responsibilities include monitoring the CCTV locally, conducting foot patrols around the house and grounds, vehicles patrols around the wider estate, evening lock-ups, and incident response.  Guard dog patrols are increasingly used, providing the ultimate deterrent to criminals. 

Panic alarms are critical when criminals target houses when they know that the owners are at home. They do this so that they can force the owners to open safes under duress, which they could not otherwise do. Intruder detection systems are genrally not alarmed until occuptants go to bed, leaving them without a means to raise an alarm at short notice. Wired or mobile panic alarms (or SOS buttons) enable families to get an immediate police response from anywhere in the house and can be their only lifeline.

‘Safe rooms’ allow families a place of refuge if under duress. They can take many forms, but generally a safe room will be an internal room with reinforced walls and a security door with multiple locking bolts, which can only be locked/unlocked from inside. Usually containing an emergency means of communication, water, food supplies, and a medical kit, they provide prolonged safety for families until the emergency services respond.

Keeping properties secure and protected should not be a one-time thing. Property owners should routinely review the security of their properties, ensuring that they are keeping ahead of new techniques employed by threat actors and organised criminal groups (OCGs).

This includes updating locks on doors and windows, testing security systems, integrating the latest security technology, and educating family members and employees about the importance of security.

Marengo provides comprehensive property security reviews for HNWs. We identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in our clients’ security plans and design new systems which are effective, unobtrusive, and tasteful. Following implementation, we also provide training for families and their staff to ensure they understand how to use the security systems properly and can respond to security incidents swiftly and effectively.