POLICE in North Yorkshire are hoping to combat rises in rural crime by releasing a free dvd to farmers and horse-owners.

The 15-minute dvd, entitled Buying Time, gives information and advice on how to avoid being the victim of crime, which police in Ryedale say has increased over the summer months.

Organised by North Yorkshire Police and endorsed by the National Farmers Union, dvd will be handed out to all victims of farming or horse-related burglary in Ryedale, and is also available on request.

PC Terry Triffitt, community safety officer in Ryedale, said that although crime levels in the area are low many people were putting themselves and their property needlessly at risk.

He said: "I have lost count of the number of vehicles, especially 4x4 vehicles, where the keys have been left in the ignition and the owner is working in the field or inside an adjacent property.

"The opportunistic thief will seize the chance and leave the owner to pick-up the pieces.

"Farmers are busy people, but it takes seconds to make full use of the built-in security that comes with the vehicle."

Inspector Tim Hutchinson, Ryedale Safer Neighbourhood Team Inspector, said: "Sadly over the summer we have had a rise in the number of vehicles attacked or stolen, and in the last two weeks we have seen a series of farm buildings attacked in the Sherrif Hutton area.

"We can all do something about crime and a careful society - a vigilant society is a hostile environment for opportunist thieves to operate in."

PC Triffitt added: "Ryedale has a low level of recorded crime and is a safe place to live and to own a business, and we want to keep it that way.

"We can only do this with the help of property owners, and by bringing out this dvd we hope we can spread the message to as many people as possible that there are practical things that can be done to both deter and keep out the would-be thief.

"I want people to adopt the maxim doing nothing is not an option'."

Anyone in Ryedale wishing to obtain their free copy of the dvd should contact their local police station or NFU branch office, or call PC Triffit on 07740 301423.