Left to the mercy of Britain's rural crime gangs: How 'perfect storm' of policing cuts and rising machinery costs have left farmers living in fear as city thieves travel to countryside to ransack isol

Farmers warn the rising value of farm equipment combined with policing shortages has created 'the perfect storm' for rural crime, with some in remote areas feeling abandoned to lawlessness. Michael Broomfield, 38, from Bishop Auckland, was jailed for stealing a quad bike in October - but many offenders are getting away with their crimes On November 18, police found the remains of five sheep that had been butchered by thieves in a field near Boston in Lincolnshire Weapons - including a pick-axe handle - seized from a group of hare coursers in November by Lincolnshire Police Of the farmers who spoke to MailOnline at a packed Louth Livestock Market in Lincolnshire, nearly all had a story to tell about rural crime. Daniel Simpson and Richard Bostock were found with a dead fallow deer in the back of their van after being stopped by police earlier this year The remains of the fallow deer were found in the back of their car Billy the dog - who was used by the pair for the illegal hunting expedition - has now been rehomed A map produced by insurers NFU Mutual showing rural crime hotspots in England based on the value of items stolen Illegal hunting is another unwelcome feature of rural life, with some criminals using a technique known as 'lamping' - whereby high-powered lights are used to disorientate animals before killing them. Also police later arrested him for false imprisonment and assault NFU Mutual chairman Jim McLaren said rural crime was becoming 'increasingly organised and ever more sophisticated', with examples of criminal gangs using technology such as drones to identify and scope out targets.