The price for copper was high, and Larry Leach found that the copper in the cables for his irrigation rigs was in high demand.

Twice he found his cable missing. The thefts cost Leach of Climax, Mich., $2,100 in repairs. At best, the thief earned a bit more than $100 for the criminal deeds. The same thief, presumably, hit one of Leach's neighbors five times. Fortunately, the thief was caught and is now in prison.

Rural crime is said to cost farmers and their insurance companies more than $5 billion a year. Popular targets for theft include livestock, timber, saddles ...