‘Our farms are subject to siege from criminal gangs’

Organized crime gangs, including sheep rustlers and burglers, are targeting farmers who have described the “fear” of a new rural crime wave.

James Jackson said that he had to face frequent break -in in his field in Lancashire’s Traden, in which Burglers were trying to steal his sheep as well as his sheep -who could get each £ 200 in the black market.

Other farmers have told the BBC about the hyreders on drugs running in their tractors and pigs, who are being killed with crossbow.

A Lancashire police officer told how the crime gangs “scope” the fields before stealing from them, while the sheep have been “slaughtered” on the roadside.

Trewden recently made headlines worldwide for this kindness – Thanks for taking voluntaries at the next level – but on its outskirts, farmers have said that there is a deep side in the area.

Mr. Jackson said: “It is a beautiful place but some farmers now live in fear of criminals.

“We know that organized crime is behind it.

“We have to increase security with CCTV cameras because we have made many efforts because they tried to go on a quad bike.”

The 38 -year -old continued: “They try and rip the tiles from the shed so that they can see what is inside.

“It is worse in bad weather because they know that they will not be heard in the air.

“There is also a rustle of quite sheep. They can get £ 200 for them on the black market.

“The crime is deteriorating and the police is not able to do much about it.”

Dairy farmer Stephanie Gregory, who keeps around 180 cows, has stolen three land rovers and two quad bikes.

The 49-year-old said: “It is very different here and sometimes when you are out in the dark, you worry who is watching you.

“We have been quite stolen and came to a ground between one of our activists to give happiness to one of our tractors at night.

“His eyes were shining like up as he was on drugs and he was getting round in circles.

“Some pigs were also shot in another farm with crossbow, but thankfully our animals are kept safe.”

Walking his dog through the village, 22 -year -old leser center Lifeguard Leon Wayneman said: “The village itself is not very crime because it is very quiet.

“But I know there are problems in the hills.

“We all heard about the farmer who became near. He was a break-in in his field.”

Last October, a 52 -year -old farmer took the law into his hands on his land in Travaden, binding two people of committing trespasses.

He took him to the colon police station at a distance of four miles, but was then arrested for false imprisonment and attack. The farmer was released and the case is under investigation.

Mr. Jackson said: “I think there may be more incidents of people taking the law into their hands.”

Sergeant Kevin Dey, whose team patrols in the field, said that criminals from Bernley and Yorkshire have targeted the fields to steal goods including quad bikes and expensive machinery.

He said: “We know that many criminals are traveling in the area and are scope from the fields.

“Many of these people are using clone vehicles and they know how to look anonymous.

“This can be a challenge, but one we get up every day. We have arrested those who stole quad bikes and farm machinery.

“Farmers need to report crime as under-reporting in the area is largely.”

SGT Day said that the effects of sheep rustle for farmers were also “huge”.

The official said: “The sheep can be taken for different reasons.

“Sometimes we have a high number taken from a herd that can go to the illegal food market.

“We have hit individual sheep and have made a very high level butcher on the side of the road.”