STOLEN TO ORDER
Quad bike thieves target Cork farmyards
MORE than 10 quads, some valued at up to €6,000, have been snatched from farms within a six mile radius of Charleville.
On one occasion, thieves were so determined to get their hands on a farmer’s quad that they removed a window in the shed where it was locked and installed planks so they could roll the machine out. In another incident a wooden fence was sawn down to allow the vehicle to exit.
The most recent theft occurred last Tuesday when two quads were stolen from two separate farms under the cover of darkness. CCTV footage reveals how the quads were taken from farmyards at approximately 3.30am and driven in the direction of Ballyagran in County Limerick.
“What we do know is that the stolen quads are not turning up on Done Deal,” a senior garda has stated, adding: “We have checked and farmers have checked. It is fair to say, they are being stolen to order for export”.
In Newcastlewest Garda Station, an incident room has been set up to deal specifically with quad thefts as County Limerick is also being hit.
Despite extensive searches, Gardaí have so far drawn a blank but investigations are ongoing.
“This is causing severe hardship to the farming community,” the garda spokesperson said.
MORE than 10 quad bikes, some with a value of close to €6,000, have been stolen from farms within a six mile radius of Charleville within the last 12 months.
Last year, thieves were so determined to get their hands on a quad that they took out the window in á shed where it was locked in, put planks up against the window and “rolled it out”. The loss to the farmer was believed to be about €3,400.
The most recent theft occurred on Tuesday, May 30, when two quads were stolen from two neighbouring farms.
Garda did, however, get CCTV footage which showed the two quads being stolen.
“The footage we have seen show the quads being driven out of the farmyards. We then have footage which shows them driving for about three miles at half past three in the morning where they are driven towards Ballyagran in Limerick. After that, we don’t know so far where they went,” said a garda.
“What we do know is that these stolen quads are not turning up on Done Deal. We have checked and farmers have checked. It is very fair to say that they are being stolen to order for export. We are still investigating all instances.
“In Newcastlewest garda station, an incident room has been set up to deal specifically with stolen quads as Limerick is also being hit with the exact same crime. This is having a serious knock on effect on the farming community in the region, ” said the Garda.
Gardai believe a lookout car drives ahead on the road, followed by another car. A dispatch crew of thieves then leaves the second car and disperses and steal the quads. In some instances, quads are simply rolled out of the farmyards or are driven away. At some point, the quads are later picked up by a van.
In the last year Gardai have conducted extensive searches along with doing cross reference questionnaires which were given to all the farmers to complete. However, Gardai did not see a common denominator in the thefts.
“When there are a spate of thefts such as this and it’s the same property being stolen, there usually is a common denominator as in the same farms would maybe have used the same farm relief service, or the same landscaper, or the same person who fixes machinery, or even the same person who collects the milk. But in this instance, we have yet to see a common denominator” said the Garda.
He said not only is the Charleville region being hit but equally so the Limerick side of Ballyagran, Castletown and Grenagh are also suffering a similar spate of thefts.
“In some instances, the quads are being pushed out of the farm yards without being started. In some other previous instances keys have been left in quads. But since so many are now being stolen, keys are not being left in quads,” said the Garda.
The Garda recommended that farmers should consider purchasing a tracker device to put install on quad.
Billy Cotter, Chairman of the IFA in North Cork told The Corkman that these thieves are causing a financial headache to the farming community.
“However, farmers are very vulnerable especially when thefts occur at night time. I would not urge any farmer to approach any thieves on their own at night time. I would advise farmers to immediately dial 999 and seek Garda assistance,” he said.
Mr Cotter said he is aware of the spate of thefts as it has come up at meetings.
Mr Cotter also pointed out the insurance implications for farmers whose quads were stolen as their premiums rise as a result. He said: “There’s also a chance some farmers haven’t listed their quads on their insurance premium.
“There is also the effect that, with such a spate of thefts in the one region, premiums could rise for farmers in that region, irrespective of whether or not they had a quad stolen.
“Because there seems to be a cluster of the same type of theft within a particular region, could well have a knock on effect on farmers premiums, even if they haven’t suffered a theft,” he said.
“The bottom line is that I would advise any farmer to let the Gardai deal with this situation,” he said.