Farmers ‘at war’ with rural crime gangs

Mr Porter, who also runs a vineyard, said the gangs of thieves were targeting farms for quad bikes and expensive tools, often ramming the roller shutters on storage sheds to break in.

Local farmers, like many across the country, are now using mobile phone chat groups to warn each other of any suspicious activity, day or night.

“We have to leave our phones on 24 hours a day so it is just that constant anxiety,” said Mr Porter.

“You’ll get a call in the night so you have to get up, go out into the dark and walk around. That can be quite intimidating if you see a vehicle coming along at night.

“It is living on a bit of a cliff edge all the time for both us and our families.”