Criminal gangs stealing agricultural vehicles such as quad bikes one of 'biggest issues' faced by North Yorkshire Police

The Covid-19 pandemic has not stopped thieves travelling into North Yorkshire from other areas and stealing expensive equipment belonging to farmers such as quad bikes, says the country's Assistant Chief Constable Mark Pannone.

Statistics for October, which is typically the worst month for agricultural vehicle theft due to longer nights and shifting farming patterns, show that the number of quad bikes and rural motor vehicles stolen in the county remained the same as last year.

There were 21 instances of vehicles stolen from rural areas last month, and 16 of quad bikes taken. This was similar to the 23 reported vehicle thefts and 16 quad bike thefts in October last year.

Meanwhile, figures show that the force is called specifically over quad bike theft twice a week.

Mr Pannone, who joined North Yorkshire Police in August from neighbouring Cumbria Police, said rural crime was one of his priorities and told The Yorkshire Post that the theft of vehicles was one of the worst issues plaguing rural areas.

"You can't understimate the impact crime has on rural communities," he said.

"It can make some people feel more vulnerable than others.

"If you lose a vehicle from a farm, this can directly impact your livelihood. So I'd say the theft of vehicles is a major concern for me.

"We're putting a lot of work into making sure that the people coming into our county to steal quad bikes and other vehicles are being targeted by our officers."

Mr Pannone added that there was a lot of covert work ongoing behind the scenes to disrupt gangs who steal from rural residents and farmers.

"North Yorkshire traditionally is one of the safest places in the country to live in terms of crime rates. This year, crime across virtually every category has gone down. However, I think that the Covid crisis in a rural setting is more problematic because people are not out as much looking out for each other.

"Any hidden problems are even more hidden than normal."

In August, police managed to return a stolen quad bike to its rightful owner after it was seen being driven suspiciously through Helmsley market place.

And in June, two men from Hartlepool were arrested on suspicion of trying to steal quad bikes from a rural Northallerton farm after one vigilant farmer spotted them acting suspiciously on his land.

Gloves, a spanner and a knife were seized from one of the 17-year-old suspects, and both were told to stay out of North Yorkshire while the investigation remained ongoing.

Many farmers are now urged to fit their vehicles with GPS tracking devices and keep them parked as close to their homes as possible.

Marking or customising agricultural vehicles so that they are easily identifiable also helps prevent theft.

Speaking earlier this year, 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.

“Police patrols in rural areas have not stopped, so if you see or hear anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to call us."

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