POLICE in West Devon are cautioning those living in the wilds of the borough to step up their security following a spate of burglaries at farms and other rural addresses.

Thieves swooped on barns and garages in isolated spots in the Okehampton area overnight on Wednesday to Thursday, July 29 to 30, stealing large quantities of tools and gardening equipment.

Among the high value items stolen were the Honda quad bike and distinctive Carrera road bike, pictured right.

Insp Mark Sloman, in charge of the West Devon police sector, said: ‘We have seen a big increase in the number of rural burglaries being committed throughout West Devon over recent weeks.

‘In particular we have seen attacks on agricultural buildings and sheds where thousands of pounds worth of equipment has been stolen, including quad bikes, power tools and valuable road bikes.

‘The crimes have been committed right across the area from Chillaton and Lewdown through to Drewsteignton and Chagford.

‘We have had reports of a white Ford Transit being seen in the vicinity of some these breaks and this is possibly being driven around on stolen registration plates.

‘I would ask that anyone who sees any activity of such a vehicle on or near their land to report it to the police.

‘In the meantime can I ask that everyone checks the security on their outbuildings, whether you are a farmer with large buildings and barns or a resident who has a small garden shed.’

Anyone with information about the incidents overnight on July 29 to 30 is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting master crime reference CR/062221/20.

The thefts last week followed several high-value burglaries from businesses in Chillaton and Lewdown the previous weekend.

In the first, at a business at Chillaton, a black Volkswagen Golf was stolen along with its keys and a quantity of cash between 1pm on Saturday, July 25 and 11am on Sunday, July 26. A business in Lewdown was also burgled between 3pm on Saturday, July 25 and Monday, July 27, with mechanical tools and a laptop stolen.

Police are seeking information and video footage of both crimes, phone 101 or email [email protected] quoting references CR/061056/20 and CR/061266/20.

The police are also urging people living in rural areas to ‘look out for each other’ and let their neighbours know if they spot anything suspicious. Officers have also detailed a number of proactive measures householders can take to deter those targeting their homes, including installing low energy security lighting and planting prickly plants such as buckthorn, hawthorn and gorse around the boundaries of the property to deter uninvited callers.

Meanwhile, rural insurance company NFU Mutual put the cost of rural crime in Devon and Cornwall at £550,000 in 2019, based on claims by its clients. It too is calling on its client to take extra precauctions to keep their property secure.