Thieves drive stolen quad bike at police in North Yorkshire

A farmer has been reunited with his quad bike after thieves abandoned it following a chase through the North Yorkshire countryside.
The quad was stolen from a farm in Appleton Wiske, near NorthallertonThe quad was stolen from a farm in Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton
The quad was stolen from a farm in Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton

The red Honda quad was fitted with a tracker that allowed police to trace it almost as soon as it had been taken from a farm building in Appleton Wiske, near Northallerton, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The owner called police after the tracking system's central office notified him that the quad was moving shortly after 2am.

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The tracking company were then able to pass live updates of the quad's whereabouts to North Yorkshire Police's control room.

It had been driven to Yarm, in Cleveland, and officers arrived on the scene by 2.30am.

The quad was driven directly towards the police vehicle, which then followed and pursued it over paths into bushes.

It was later found abandoned in a field, and despite an area search by a police dog and a drone, no suspects were located.

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The quad bike has been returned to its owner. It had been stolen by forcing open a locked shutter door. Forensic enquiries are underway as the investigation into the burglary continues.

Police in North Yorkshire are urging quad bike owners to invest in trackers to protect their vehicles.

Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “Quite apart from their monetary value, the loss of a quad can have a really significant impact on farms and other rural businesses. The good news is security measures, in particular vehicle trackers, can be extremely effective.”

In light of the theft, people who own quad bikes are urged to check the security of their vehicles:

- Fit a GPS tracking device.

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- Park it as close to your premises as possible, ideally in a locked outbuilding with CCTV and security lighting, preferably out of sight from nearby roads

- Remove keys when not in use, and do not leave them near the quad

- Secure with wheel clamps and/or locking posts, and consider an alarm

- Mark or customise your quad so it is easily identifiable

- Keep a record of all vehicles, including photographs and serial numbers

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Officers are asking for anyone who saw suspicious activity in or near Saltergill Lane in Yarm at around 2.30am in the early hours of Saturday August 8 to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12200136187.