Dr Alistair Harkness, a senior lecturer at the University of New England, became interested in rural crime almost 10 years ago when he was working at the then Monash University (which later became Federation University) in Gippsland - where he worked until very recently.

Hearing story after story about farmers being the targets of theft, the criminologist decided to conduct some research.

Farm crime - including tools, fuel, water, farm equipment, firearms and ammunition being stolen - is an increasing issue in Victoria and can have a devastating impact for victims.

Often the target of farm crime is livestock. In 2019, more than $1.6 million worth of livestock was stolen from Victorian farms.

Dr Harkness has conducted an array of research and is the author of a number of publications about rural crime. He is also currently leading the International Farm Crime Research Project, through which a survey he has conducted has been replicated in New South Wales and across the world in an effort to compare the attitudes of farmers on a global scale.

He said there were two types of criminals who steal from farms.

The first are those who "steal to order". Often these people have advanced industry knowledge, for example, to be able to round up a large number of livestock and to know where they can be sold.

With less people around than in an urban setting and less security in place, the other type of criminal is more opportunistic and believes there is only a small likelihood of being caught if they steal from a rural property.

Dr Harkness said one big hurdle to overcome was that there was more rural crime occurring than was being recorded, as it was so underreported.

Often farmers do not notice a theft until days or even months later, and sometimes they simply deem it too minor to bother reporting.

He said proactive engagement from police was crucially important to increase reporting and address rural crime trends.

His research revealed that rural residents who have interacted with a police officer with specialised knowledge - such as a farm crime liaison officer - were more likely to report a crime, as were those who are part of a service organisation such as the State Emergency Service or Country Fire Authority.

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Dr Harkness said increasing reporting was important as without official records showing the extent of criminal activity in certain areas, there were not adequate records for government or police command to allocate adequate resources to address it.

It also means the offender is able to continue targeting other people.

"Police engaging with communities is really important. It's not just about law enforcement but about building that relationship between police and community," he said.

"It's also about playing that educational role as well - because prevention is better than a cure."

Implementing crime prevention strategies is another important factor in decreasing the prevalence of farm crime. Dr Harkness' research revealed that 92 per cent of people who had reported being a victim of farm crime were hit with a significant loss, with what was stolen never returned.

"Preventing it from happening in the first place is crucial," he said.

"We need to encourage farmers and others to adopt as many different crime prevention measures as they can."

Being observant and looking out for neighbours is key, with any suspicious behaviour reported to police.

Target hardening measures such as locking up valuables and installing motion activated CCTV cameras in strategic locations can also deter offenders, while also meaning evidence can be provided to police if a crime is to occur.

Dr Harkness features in the first episode of a new two-part Crime Stoppers podcast series which shines a light on rural crime in Victoria.

Titled 'Rural Crime - Intentions, Prevention and Detection', it highlights the impact of crimes taking place on farms across regional Victoria and why it is important for farmers to reassess their attitude towards safety and crime prevention.

The first episode in the series features Dr Harkness, and the second a group of farmers from the Wimmera - including Sam Eagle, Bruce Crafter and Victorian Farmers Federation President David Jochinke.

Crime Stoppers Victoria Chief Executive Stella Smith said the podcast progressed the organisation's spotlight on rural crime following its Locals Get Vocal campaign launch to target criminal activity on rural farms.

"Rural crime is an issue prevalent across regional Victoria and the targeting of farms by criminals is a matter of concern.

"Crime Stoppers relies on the help of the community for all types of crime and in the case of rural crime, which happens in such remote settings, community assistance is integral.

"People can report any information they know to Crime Stoppers confidentially, they don't need to say who they are, and they can report online or call us on 1800 333 000."

The podcast is available on the Crime Stoppers website and on all other streaming services.