Huge increases in the cost of production are already hitting farmers where it hurts, but they are also far more likely to be affected by rural crime and, most often by people who live, work or understand countryside practices.

That is the worrying trend highlighted by Alan Dron, Inspector of the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime, (SPARC) who warned that while Operation Hawkeye, has seen convictions and jail sentences, serious organised criminals remain at large.

Speaking to The Scottish Farmer at their autumnal livestock attacks and worrying campaign launch at Dalmally Show, he said farmers are now far more likely to report crimes committed against them and their property, which in turn are more often than not, resulting in convictions.

Operation Hawkeye, which links police in Scotland with the rural crime divisions in Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Co Durham, is also proving hugely effective. However, Constable Graeme Scott warned: "We have seen a huge rise in rural crime this year due to the cost of living crisis. Criminals are business people with no morals and they will steal lots of things they never used to such as fuel, strimmers, chain saws and hand tools.

"We're also hearing of criminals flying drones over properties to check out what is on a farm or in the house, rather than be caught in person. Or, they might appear in a delivery van looking for a neighbouring farm, but secretly checking out what is easily available to steal," he said.

In 2021, the cost of rural crime in the UK was estimated at £40.5m, according to NFU Mutual's latest Rural Crime report, with thieves targeting fuel, livestock and kit. More worrying is the fact that in the first quarter of 2022, rural crime costs rose 40%.

While difficult to prevent, Constable Scott, said the best way to tackle such crime is to make theft as difficult as possible. He encouraged farmers to alter their daily routine when they might be on or off farm, to always take keys out of vehicles and to shut away tools and other hand held valuables out of sight of passing vehicles.

Leaving a dummy fuel can filled water can also help deter thieves.

One of the best ways to prevent theft is by use of Selecta DNA which can be used to mark everything valuable with a unique formula of DNA, UV tracer and microdots. The product which comes with a warning sticker for each item it is used on, is likely to dramatically reduce the risk of it being stolen.

Criminals know that DNA is the police’s most powerful weapon in convicting criminals, therefore the DNA fear-factor is highly understood and acts as a huge deterrent. Criminals view items marked with SelectaDNA as too high risk and are further put off from stealing as they have little or no resale value.

By prominently displaying the window stickers enclosed in the kit and by using a SelectaDNA sign on their property thieves are far less likely to come on farm.

SelectaDNA can be used to mark up to 50 valuables on a property from jewellery to quad bikes, tractors and gators with the unique DNA formula proving inconspicuous and almost impossible to remove.

Even if items are stolen, police can help to return such property compared to the thousands of other items recovered every year and auctioned off.

"We recover so much property every year, but because there is no DNA labelling on it or we have no photographs of the items stolen, we really struggle to pass it back to the owners," said Sergeant Carly Bryce.

A new Secured by Design approved product that clamps and secures a quad bike when driven into it is dramatically reducing the risk of quad bike theft on farms too, when it locks onto one wheel and into the ground, but is much more costly coming in at £1200.