POLICE are urging countryside communities to help tackle rural crime following a spate of thefts in Lincolnshire.

A spate of rural crime has taken place during recent months in and around the market towns of Market Rasen, Louth and Horncastle.

This has included including burglaries to farms, workshops and garages including the theft of tools, agricultural machinery and four-wheel drive vehicles.

It follows recent warnings by the National Rural Crime Network that crime in the countryside is costing as much as £800m annually.

Officers in Lincolnshire are being joined on patrol by PCCOs and volunteer special constables as part of Operation Aardwolf, put in place to tackle rural crime,

Specialist officers from the East Midlands Specialist Operations Support team are also working closely with colleagues from Caistor and Market Rasen.

Louth's Community Policing Inspector Richard Myszczyszyn said: "I understand the effect these crimes have been having on victims in our rural communities.

"As a result we have been making proactive efforts to address this issue."

Inspector Myszczyszyn said the police relied greatly on information and intelligence from rural residents and the wider general public.

"If you have anything you think might be relevant, or even just have any suspicions about particular people or activity, please contact us on 101 as soon as possible.

"Sometimes even the smallest piece of information can be all we need to bring offenders to justice."

Inspector Myszczyszyn added: "I want to reassure our community that we take rural crime very seriously and encourage people to report any suspicious activity to us."

A special operation in April saw police work together with volunteers to conduct patrols, vehicle stops, and checks on vulnerable premises throughout the night.

The operation provided officers with a number of lines of enquiry.

PC Chris Bell said: "By tackling these issues head-on and ensuring we have a very visible presence in these areas we hope it will deter criminals and put a stop to their offending.

Crime reduction tactical advisor Sally Picker said: "It's always good to review your own security, no matter what time of year, and especially when there has been a spike in offences.

She added: "It's very easy to be complacent and think 'it won't happen to me' but that's what opportunistic offenders rely on.

"Please ensure that all your properties and vehicles are safe and secure and deny criminals the opportunity to carry out crime."