How safe is your farm?
That's the question RACV and Neighbourhood Watch want Victorian farmers to answer as part of the new How safe is my farm initiative.
The latest figures from the Victorian Crime Statistics Agency show more than 2,000 offences were committed on Victorian farms in 2022.
Theft - including theft of firearms and livestock - accounted for over 60 per cent of crimes.
How safe is my farm is an Australian-first Neighbourhood Watch initiative, developed with Victoria Police and supported by RACV, that aims to help Victorian farmers identify what they can do to reduce the risk of crime on their properties.
It includes an online tool that asks a series of questions about security and gives users a personalised report on how safe their farm is.
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University of New England Centre for Rural Criminology co-director Dr Alistair Harkness, one of Australia's leading experts in rural crime, said thefts from farms had enormous social and economic impacts.
"It can be costly, disruptive and mentally straining so the best way to avoid becoming a victim of farm crime is to do whatever possible to prevent offending from happening in the first place," Dr Harkness said.
"That's why the innovative How safe is my farm tool from Neighbourhood Watch is invaluable.
"It lets farmers conduct an audit to see where vulnerabilities might exist and to think carefully about what crime prevention measures might be implemented to improve safety and security."
He said it was important for farmers to keep an eye out for each other, report crime and suspicious behaviour when it does occur, and prevent it occurring in the first place, by implementing measures to deter offending.
Neighbourhood Watch Victoria chief executive Bambi Gordon, encouraged all Victorian farmers to use the online tool and find out how secure their property is.
"Back in the day, we left doors open and didn't expect that we could be a victim," she said.
"Times have changed.
"But on the upside, we know that theft is often opportunistic and if we can remove the opportunity, we can prevent crime from occurring".
To use the tool and find out more, visit howsafeismyplace.com.au/farm/.
Victoria Police will be attending Wimmera Field Days - a showcase of the latest developments in farming practice - to promote How safe is my farm on behalf of Neighbourhood Watch.
The event will be held from March 7 to 9 at Longerenong, and will have over 400 exhibitors.
How safe is my farm is an extension of the How safe is my place suite of resources, including a comprehensive online quiz and an interactive home security app launched by RACV and Neighbourhood Watch in 2022.
Subscribers have access to download our free app today from the App Store or Google Play.
