LIVESTOCK rustling is becoming big business for organised criminals with sheep thefts being carried out in ever greater numbers, according to rural insurer NFU Mutual.

In January 143 sheep were snatched from fields at Pulford, Wrexham, and in April, 63 Texel cross in-lamb were stolen from a farm above Tremeirchion, Denbighshire.

According to figures released last month, farm animals worth £2.5m were stolen across Britain in 2018 – an 11 per cent rise in two years.

Tim Price, of NFU Mutual, said the insurer was becoming increasingly alarmed at the scale of the thefts. “A generation ago, rustling was typically a local crime involving a couple of lambs or half a dozen geese being taken “for the pot”. Now it’s an organised crime with dozens or even hundreds of sheep worth thousands of pounds being taken in a single raid.”

Welshpool and Shropshire based ORP Surveillance, which specialises in farm security, has seen a jump in demand for access control systems over the past 18 months.

As well as alarms, cameras and intercoms at farm entrances, Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems are being installed by anxious farmers.

“We’re also seeing wireless cameras being installed in remote farm buildings,” said ORP Director Jennifer Marlow. “It gives them peace of mind. We design surveillance systems to suit every farming sector including poultry production, beef and sheep and vegetables.”

ORP Surveillance are specialists in the design, supply, installation and maintenance of high-quality digital CCTV systems. To learn more visit: www.orpcctv.com. To contact the company phone: 01743 884765 or email: info@orpcctv.com