THEFT OF QUAD BIKES

Since the start of January, Police Scotland has seen a sharp increase in the theft of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles.

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.

Farm machinery, plant and vehicles are vital tools of the trade for those who live and work in our rural communities. The theft of these items adversely affects their livelihoods and has a huge economic impact.

Since January 1st this year 20 quad bikes have been stolen from the following locations: Newmilns, Forfar, Lochgelly, Lanark, Kelty, Bathgate, Kinross, Penicuik, Dunbar, Tranent, Lockerbie, Cockburnspath, Fintry, Larkhall, Kirkliston and Broxburn.

The total value of these thefts alone stands at £118,970.

Thieves are breaking into secure outbuildings and removing them with or without the true key. It is to be noted that when a tracker has been fitted there have been some good instances of the quad bike being recovered and returned to the owner.

Police Scotland’s RAB-PT are working closely with all 13 divisions, as well as with colleagues south of the Border, to keep thieves out of our areas as well as encouraging all 19 Local PARC’S (Partnerships Against Rural Crime) to use partnership working to deter and prevent such crimes from occurring by spreading crime prevention messaging to their rural communities. 

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

This list is in no way comprehensive but does provide some advice to aid you in securing your property.

For more info – www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime/quad-bike-security

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