Property Crime Victimisation and Crime Prevention on Farm

This project was undertaken in partnership with Professor Joseph Donnermeyer of Ohio State University in the USA and was funded by the NSW Attorney General's Crime Prevention Division.

This project investigated the extent and impact of property-related victimisation on farms involving crimes such as the theft of stock, chemical, fuel, machinery and equipment, as well as vandalism and arson. It also examined the relationship between victimisation and physical deterrence factors. The extent and pattern of security practices undertaken by farmers and their possible association with property crime was assessed.

A mail survey was conducted with 1,100 randomly selected farmers in rural New South Wales. Telephone interviews were held with farmers who had been victims of crime, police, and agricultural professionals, such as stock and station agents and sale-yard managers.

The results highlighted the problems of policing and preventing agricultural crimes due to difficulties in maintaining security on farms and the widespread under-reporting of agricultural crimes. The information gathered provided material for the development of a series of crime prevention leaflets for farmers.

The following crime prevention leaflets are available below for download: 'Crime on Farms', 'General Farm Security', 'Farm Machinery Theft', 'Farmhouse Security', 'Fuel Tank Security', 'Seed and Grain Theft', 'Livestock Theft', 'Illegal Trespassers and Shooters', 'Reporting Crimes to Police', 'Identification of Farm Machinery', 'Tools & Equipment', and 'How to establish a Neighbourhood Watch Group'.

These leaflets are the copyright of the Institute for Rural Futures, University of New England (UNE). You may download, display, print and reproduce the leaflets in unaltered form for your personal, non-commercial use only, providing the source is acknowledged.

All other uses require the prior written permission of the University of New England.

Related publications

Crime Prevention on Farm - Full Report
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 1 - Crime on Farms
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 2 - General Farm Security
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 3 - Identification of Farm Machinery, Tools & Equipment
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 4 - Farm Machinery Theft
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 5 - Farmhouse Security
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 6 - Fuel Tank Security
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 7 - Seed and Grain Theft
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 8 - Livestock Theft
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 9 - Illegal Trespassers and Shooters
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 10 - Reporting Crimes to Police
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Crime Prevention Leaflet 11 - How to establish a Neighbourhood Watch Group
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Completed in 2002

Funded by: Attorney General's Crime Prevention Division

Partners: Professor Joseph Donnermeyer, Ohio State University

Contact: The Institute for Rural Futures