A man has been arrested after being pursued by police through the Yorkshire Dales on a stolen quad bike.
At about 2am on Tuesday (25 July), an officer from North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce on patrol in the Coniston Cold area, near Skipton, spotted a quad bike being driven in suspicious circumstances.
It failed to stop, and was pursued by Roads Policing Group officers along the A629 and surrounding roads, and eventually into Silsden, West Yorkshire.
The vehicle was abandoned in a housing estate, and the driver ran from the scene. Officers deployed to contain the immediate area, and a police dog located a man hiding between some bins nearby.
A 20-year-old man from Bradford was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.
The quad bike was recovered by police, and will be forensically examined. It had been stolen from a garage in a remote, rural area near Austwick.
The farming industry has rallied around the Government to take action on the blight of rural crime hitting the UK recently.
The NFU has warned in particular that farmers should not be seen as a 'soft target' for criminals.
Vehicle security
Police forces across the UK have focused on the rise of vehicle crime in rural areas.
Just this week, a Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) was stolen from a farm in broad daylight, and the whole incident was caught on CCTV in stalled on the farm.
North Yorkshire Police's Rural Taskforce is one of those forces that have been raising awareness of the importance of quad bike and ATV security in recent months.
PCSO Sally Breen, from the Taskforce, said: “I am urging anyone who owns a Land Rover or a quad bike – and particularly if they live in a rural area – to take extra steps to ensure their vehicles are left safe and secure.
“It’s much better to spend a bit of time and money now on better security than to go through the inconvenience and upset of having your vehicle stolen.
“Members of the public act as our eyes and ears in rural areas, and so if you are aware of any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will take action.”
Vehicle crime prevention tips
• Always leave your vehicle locked and alarmed if possible
• Consider fitting an after-market approved immobiliser
• Park in a locked garage or other secure area if you have one, or in a well-lit open space if not
• Never leave the vehicle’s keys in the ignition, in the same outbuilding as the vehicle, or near your front door inside your home
• Be vigilant when using your vehicle for anyone taking an interest in it
• Consider fitting a transponder-based security marking system and tracker device
• Have the vehicle’s windows etched with the vehicle identification number
