Salmon poaching, hare coursing and intimidation are amongst the big issues farmers and landowners say they are facing across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight this summer.
The concerns were raised during a recent meeting at Southwick Estate near Fareham, between members of the rural community and Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones.
Discussions highlighted ongoing rural crime challenges and explored proactive solutions, including the work of the Rural Crime Task Force and the new EyesOn reporting app.
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Ms Jones said: "It is vital that officers receive CCTV and intelligence from these rural businesses, to help catch offenders and combat the targeting of farmers and landowners by criminal gangs.
"Rural crime is a blight to our countryside communities and EyesOn is already assisting our focus in this area to tackle these crimes.
"I want everyone across our region to feel safer and to forge stronger links with their local police officers, while there are now a dozen new Local Bobbies placed into rural areas."
EyesOn is the first app of its kind in the UK, it is now available to countryside businesses across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Since its launch, the app has processed 62 crime reports from over 347 members.
These include 37 incidents of poaching, 18 reports of suspicious vehicles and two wildlife crimes.
The app is funded by Ms Jones and countryside businesses can apply to the Hampshire Rural Community group for free membership, subject to approval.
It was piloted earlier this year by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s Rural Crime Task Force and selected members.
Ms Jones encouraged rural businesses to take advantage of the reporting tool.
She said: "I would encourage anyone with a rural business to apply to join the EyesOn app for free, giving them the ability to report incidents easily and quickly, while also receiving ongoing day-to-day help and support from police."
Last June, Ms Jones launched the Country Watch Rural Crime Task Force.
The dedicated team of officers patrol and police rural areas across the two counties.
Since its formation, the task force has recovered £574,000 worth of goods, including plant and machinery.
Ms Jones said the team is making a clear impact by disrupting the trade in moving stolen farm equipment.
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