Quad bike and ATV thefts rising

In recent weeks there has been a rise in quad bike and vehicles thefts from rural areas across the UK. 

These thefts greatly affect the daily working practices of farmers, crofters and land managers, including the financial impact of replacing the vehicle. 

Quad Bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles are a major target for thieves and highly organised criminals in the UK. These types of vehicles are easy to steal as thieves can jump on and drive off when you are working on a farm or target them from workshops and barns. Remote locations such as farms can offer rich pickings due to their rural location and isolation from other neighbours.

Stuart Roberts, NFU Deputy President said:

"Rural crime continues to be a huge issue for British farmers and the theft of a quad bike can have an enormous impact on a farm business.

"It’s important we all work together to make a criminal’s life as hard as possible and the NFU has brought together insurers, the police, and manufacturers to find solutions."

Advice from Police Scotland’s Rural, Acquisitive and Business Preventions Team (RAB-PT) is to ensure that owners of such vehicles are made aware that thieves are active currently and to stress to them that all steps are taken to keep your quad or ATV safe and secure.

Below are some crime prevention tips to use when thinking of securing machinery.

• Fit immobilisation and tracking systems
• When the quad is not in use, remove the keys and store well away from the vehicle.
• Use clamps and locks to secure machinery
• Restrict access to farmyards, buildings, and sheds where possible
• Keep machinery out of sight of roadways where thieves’ scope for targets
• Consider outside lighting and CCTV to act as deterrent
• Record all serial numbers and take photographs

This list is in no way comprehensive but does provide some advice to aid businesses to in secure their property and reduced the risk of theft.

For more info - www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/q...

Pic credit: red quad bike in the forest, close-up view by Tatiana Domarieva from Canva