Police arrest quad bike theft suspects after tracker alert
© Tim Scrivener Two men suspected of trying to steal a quad bike from a barn in North Yorkshire were arrested after the owner’s tracker alert scared them off and sparked a police search.
Just after 7pm on Thursday 11 June, a resident in Ellerton, near Catterick, received a text alert from his quad bike tracker, telling him the vehicle was moving.
He spotted two men taking the quad bike out of a barn. As he approached them, the suspects ran off empty-handed. However, they had damaged the vehicle’s ignition.
See also: Rural thieves target ATVs during lockdown
Police officers and a police helicopter were sent to the scene and a warning and description of the suspects was sent out on social media and to Rural Watch volunteers in the area.
The following morning, 12 June, at about 7am, a motorist on her way to work noticed two men, who she described as looking “rather dishevelled and wet through”, walking near Kiplin along the B6271, towards Northallerton.
North Yorkshire Police officers stopped and arrested two men, aged 19 and 28, on suspicion of burglary with intent to steal.
In another incident, at 3.50am on Thursday 11 June, a 22-year-old man was arrested in Danby Wiske, near Northallerton, on suspicion of stealing a quad bike.
Two other men seen riding on the suspected stolen quad bike ran off into fields and were not located at the time.
The two men arrested near Kiplin have now both been linked to this incident as well.
Quad bike security
- Invest in a bespoke quad security device, such as Quadvice, or a quality padlock and chain, such as those approved by Secured By Design – a police-approved product scheme. Securing to a fixed point on the ground or something that takes time to remove will also act as a deterrent.
- Never leave your keys in the ignition, even if you only briefly leave your ATV unattended.
- Keep gates to yards closed, as open gates can be an invitation to thieves.
Source: NFU Mutual