Farmers urged to be aware as seven quad bikes stolen in five days in Somerset

Warning to farmers as seven quad bikes stolen in five days in Somerset
Warning to farmers as seven quad bikes stolen in five days in Somerset

Farmers are being warned to increase their security following the theft of seven quad bikes in Somerset in the space of five days.

The thieves stole five quad bikes from farms in the Cheddar and Axbridge area last weekend, while one was stolen near Taunton and the other from Bath on Monday.

Overnight on October 13 - 14 five vehicles were taken. A blue Yamaha was removed from a farmyard in Stretcholt, three quads were taken from an outbuilding near Axbridge and a red Honda quad was stolen from a farm outbuilding near Cheddar.

A policeman helps a farmer property mark and register a quad bike (Photo: Avon and Somerset Police)
A policeman helps a farmer property mark and register a quad bike (Photo: Avon and Somerset Police)

The last one was fitted with a tracking device, which the victim was able to activate via their tracking company and officers managed to trace it to Weston-super-Mare and return it to its owner.

Avon and Somerset Police are warning farmers that thieves are targeting quad bikes and other similar machinery in the run-up to Christmas.

'Quad bikes are attractive to thieves'

Inspector Joanna Mines, from Avon and Somerset Police's Rural Crime Team, said: “I know we repeat the message regularly regarding fitting tracking devices and I do realise that there is a cost element, which can be prohibitive to some people.

"However, out of all the quads stolen we have been able to locate and return the vehicle where a device was fitted, working and activated. This obviously also aids our investigation.

“Quad bikes are attractive to thieves, so I would ask owners to make sure they employ some relatively simple crime prevention methods to minimise the risk of losing their vehicle and make life harder for thieves.

"Don’t leave the keys in the vehicle, use a combination key box if multiple people need access to them, store them overnight in locked buildings, or box them in with other larger vehicles so they can’t be moved If at all possible fit a tracker and/or an immobiliser.”

The Rural Crime Team is now investigating the thefts and appealing for information from the public.

To pass on information call 101. Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.