DALES farmers are being urged by police to have trackers fitted to their quad bikes after thieves were thwarted in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Increasingly, the machines are being stolen from farms but a tracking device can help them to be located quickly.

Last week North Yorkshire Police recovered two red and black Honda quad bikes which had been taken from a farm between Harrogate and Otley.

Just before 2am yesterday the farmer was woken by a notification from the tracker service and heard the sound of quads being driven away. They contacted police. At around the same time, North Yorkshire Police also received a call from the tracker service about stolen quads.

The two stolen quad bikes were tracked heading towards Bradford and officers passed the details to West Yorkshire Police colleagues.

At 2.50am, guided by the vehicle tracker, officers located one of the stolen quads abandoned in the Bolton Woods area of Bradford.

A few hours later, the second stolen quad was also found, in the Yeadon area.

Both have now been returned to their rightful owner.

Police said the incident highlighted the importance of good quality quad bike security measures – particularly vehicle trackers.

Inspector Matt Hagen, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “Unfortunately, quad bikes in remote, rural areas are often targeted by thieves.

“Quite apart from its monetary value, the loss of a quad can have a really significant impact on a farm or other rural business – particularly in these difficult times, when farmers really cannot afford any further disruption.

“The good news is security measures, in particular vehicle trackers, can be extremely effective. In this case, we have managed to recover two stolen quad bikes the very same night they were stolen, thanks to trackers.”

In light of the latest thefts, people who own quad bikes are urged to check the security of their vehicles and put the following measures in place:

Park 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, fit a GPS tracking device and secure with wheel clamps and/or locking posts, and mark or customise your quad.

Insp Hagen added: “With the coronavirus restrictions in place, far fewer people are making journeys, which can make suspicious activity – like unusual vehicle movements through rural areas late at night – stand out.”