Police warning after spate of quad bike thefts in North Yorkshire

The alert follows two quads being taken from Ribblehead and Stainforth in the early hours of December 7.

Police said “significant effort” had been made to steal the bikes, both of which had been locked securely.

One was taken from a barn in the Ribblehead area and the other from Sherwood Brow, Stainforth.

Both were taken between 1am and 2.30am on Sunday and were reportedly seen travelling in convoy at 2.30am through Stainforth.

A police spokesman said there were at least four people with the bikes at the time. He added: "Please be quad bike theft aware if you own one. These bikes were locked and secure.

"Consider a tracking device. If you see anything that you think is suspicious, please call police."

The theft follows a Honda TRX 500 quad bike being stolen from a farm in Hudswell, near Richmond overnight on December 5 and two red Honda quad bikes being stolen from a farm in Bordley, near Grassington on December 3.

Last month, it emerged he number of motor vehicles stolen in rural parts of the North Yorkshire coast had doubled compared to last year.

The force said its cross-border partnership with Cleveland police was helping to “detect and deter rural crime”.

Anyone with any information about the thefts, including CCTV footage, should contact police and quote 1225 0022 9888.