Warning over quad bike thefts in region

CRIME: Police and farmers have warned of the impact crime is having on rural communities as figures revealed 100 quad bikes have been targeted by thieves in North Yorkshire in a year. Many of the thefts are carried out by criminals from places outside from the county.

SENIOR POLICE and farming leaders have warned of the devastating impact crime is having on rural communities as figures revealed more than 100 quad bikes have been targeted by thieves in North Yorkshire in a year.

North Yorkshire Police said many of the thefts are carried out by criminals from towns and cities away from North Yorkshire with some vehicles being recovered as far away as Liverpool.

People in the county are now being urged to be vigilant to help stop the thefts. Communities in rural North Yorkshire are working with the police to counter the problem, with the creation of more than 30 WhatsApp groups for each district for residents and officers to exchange tip-offs about thefts and other crimes.

Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “Quite apart from its monetary value, the loss of a quad can have a significant impact on a farm or other rural business – particularly in these difficult times, when farmers really cannot afford any further disruption.”

North Yorkshire Police figures obtained by The Yorkshire Post show the force recorded 103 thefts, or attempted thefts, of quad bikes in the 12 months up to April this year.

Craven was the worst hit, with 31 offences, followed by Harrogate where there were 14 and Scarborough with 13. Both York and Selby had the fewest offences – zero and two respectively – indicating that criminals are targeting more rural areas.

In many cases, it is thought thieves travel from towns and cities to rural areas to steal the bikes, before selling them on or using them for their own purposes.

In past cases, stolen bikes have been found dumped in Leeds while people have been arrested in locations such as Liverpool and Teesside.

Last week, two people from Hartlepool were arrested after quad bikes were stolen from a farm near Northallerton in the early hours of Monday.

The males, aged 17 and 24, were questioned after a farmer spotted suspicious activity on his land and followed two people into a field while a family member raised the alarm. Both have been bailed by the police on the condition of not entering the county other than to answer bail.

A spokeswoman for Upper Wharfedale Rural Watch aid: “Working in the farming industry, this crime can interfere with your entire life. It’s like losing an arm, really – you need quad bikes to do your job.”

The NFU’s regional director Adam Bedford urged people to remain vigilant, and added: “The theft of quad bikes is something that has a particular impact on farmers as these days they are the real workhorses on farms, particularly livestock farms where farmers need to be able to easily navigate difficult terrain.”

It’s like losing an arm, really – you need quad bikes to do your job.

Spokeswoman for Upper Wharfedale Rural Watch.