Wealden Police Launch Crackdown on Rural Burglaries
As the nights draw in, Wealden police are hitting farms and villages with a bold day of action to stop burglaries dead in their tracks. The target? Rural crime in our peaceful countryside.
Operation Scarecrow Rolls Out Across Countryside
On Wednesday, November 2, the Wealden Neighbourhood Policing Team toured farms, rural villages, and small businesses. Their mission: offer advice and top-notch security help to keep property and livelihoods safe. This is all part of the force’s new crime-fighting blitz, Operation Scarecrow.
Many owners told officers they’d fallen victim to break-ins before. So the police handed out prevention kits, including Selecta DNA markers to tag tools and machinery, CCTV warning posters, and info on the UK National Property Register to safeguard valuables.
Top Tips to Beat Rural Burglars
The team stopped by farms from Selmeston to Wadhurst, covering cattle, stud farms and everything in between. They dished out this no-nonsense advice to keep thieves at bay:
- Lock away all equipment in secure buildings when not in use
- Install burglar alarms on buildings storing machinery
- Keep expensive items and vehicles out of sight
- Mark tools and register them for easy recovery
- Fit outside security lights and visible alarms
- Ensure windows, doors and frames are sturdy and in good repair
- Use strong locks on sheds, garages and outbuildings
- Consider security bars or grilles on vulnerable windows
- Secure gates to prevent being lifted off or tampered with
- Check security systems regularly to keep them working
- Block wide yard access points with locking posts or obstructions
For even tougher protection, farm owners were urged to:
- Install automatic security lights that activate at dusk
- Use CCTV covering the most vulnerable spots
- Add monitored intruder alarms
- Set up entry control systems like infrared sensors or keypads
- Use a single gated entrance and remove unused private access points
Rural Crime a Silent Threat – Report It
Rural crime is widespread but often goes unreported. It drives up insurance premiums, hikes food prices, and hits local communities hard. Sussex Police urge anyone spotting suspicious activity to report it online – even if you’re unsure whether it’s a crime.
For anonymous tips, contact the National Farmers’ Union Rural Crime Reporting Line on 0800 783 0137. They’re especially keen to hear about:
- Large-scale industrial fly-tipping
- Hare coursing
- Machinery theft
- Livestock theft
Find out more at sussex.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rc/rural-crime" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sussex Police Rural Crime Advice.
