The number of tractors stolen in Scotland rose by 10% last year, according to rural insurer NFU Mutual.
Provisional figures from the company suggest Scotland was the only part of the UK to see a rise in tractor thefts last year – UK-wide tractor thefts fell by nearly 20%.
“Scotland is the only part of the UK where NFU Mutual saw rural crime go up in 2014,” said the insurer’s rural affairs spokesman Tim Price.
“Historically we have seen lower rates of rural crime in Scotland than most other parts of the UK, but in the last three years it has increased sharply.
“We know farmers in Scotland are doing a lot to improve security in their farm yards and machinery, but there is still more that can be done to make it hard for criminals to get onto farms undetected and steal machinery and equipment.”
Claim statistics for 2013 reveal livestock rustling was becoming an increasing problem with more then 4,200 animals – mainly sheep – reported stolen in Scotland that year.
Last month Solicitor General, Lesley Thomson, launched a full review of the way agricultural crimes are prosecuted in Scotland.
This follows concerns over the rise in agricultural crime across the country.
Only recently, north-east sheep farmer Rory Gregor had 31 in-lamb Beltex sheep stolen.
Despite the offer of a £5,000 reward to anyone who could help him find the sheep, the stock are still missing.