Honda revealed as most stolen quad bike brand on UK farms
File picture © FLPA/John Eveson/REX/Shutterstock Thieves like to steal Honda quad bikes from farms more than any other model – with more than one a day going missing.
Figures published by the Metropolitan Police’s Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) show that 385 Honda quad bikes were stolen across the UK over the last year.
Over the same period, from April 2015 to June this year, 142 Yamaha and 83 Suzuki were stolen along with 269 “other” makes.
See also: Masked quad bike gangs terrorise Yorkshire farmers
Theft of quad bikes and all terrain vehicles (ATVs) from farms remains a big problem, according to rural insurer NFU Mutual, especially in the Midlands and Yorkshire where hill farms have been plagued with thefts in recent months.
Quad bike thefts by manufacturer (Source: PANIU) |
|||
|
|
Oct-Dec 2015 |
Jan-Mar 2016 |
Apr-Jun 2016 |
|
1. Honda |
131 |
104 |
57 |
|
2. Yamaha |
46 |
39 |
27 |
|
3. Suzuki |
25 |
17 |
23 |
|
4. Others |
69 |
70 |
55 |
However, PANIU said over the past 12 months, quad bikes theft has been decreasing overall across the UK.
Detective Inspector Caroline Clooney, of PANIU, said: “Quad bike theft is down 15% and this is believed to be due to increased crime awareness and police training initiatives across the UK by PANIU, Datatag and NFU over the quarter.”
For example, Police Scotland launched Operation Tigerclaw in response to a number of quad bikes being stolen from the Perth and Kinross areas in 2015.
But targeting organised criminal gangs has helped police halve quad bike thefts in these areas this year.
Three tips to prevent quad bike theft
- Fit a Thatcham-approved tracker device, which also reduces insurance premiums
- Construction & Agricultural Equipment Security Register or Datatag marking can help deter theft of quad bikes by up to four times
- Security locking accessories, such as Quad Clamp, make quad bikes harder for criminals to remove from farms
(Source: NFU Mutual)
The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (Sparc), a cross-industry partnership between 13 groups, including Police Scotland, rural insurer NFU Mutual and farming unions, is also helping to reduce thefts.
More than 80% of quad bikes stolen in Scotland are snatched in Lanarkshire, Lothians and Scottish Borders, Ayrshire and Fife.
Arrests and vehicle recoveries continue to be made across the country, but Sparc members were determined to do more to prevent this type of crime and further reduce the impact on farming.
Clive Harris, NFU Mutual’s agricultural vehicle specialist, said: “We have working with Sparc since last June and we are a key partner.
“Sparc is concentrating on tackling sheep worrying, livestock theft and quad bike theft.
“Quad bike theft is coming down quite nicely.”
Andy Barrs, head of police liaison for Tracker, the UK’s largest stolen vehicle tracking/recovery provider, said: “Quad thefts are a particular concern in England and Wales, with the Midlands worse affected, which is why we see an increasing number of quad owners turning to tracking technology to protect their vehicles.”
Farmers Weekly’s view
Hondas are one of the most common quad bike brands and because of that they are probably more likely to get stolen. Those who are stealing them are more likely to know how to steal them.
Lots of these quad bikes are stolen to order so the Honda will be easier to shift on, which is probably why they are being targeted more than any other models.
Jos Jones, Farmers Weekly machinery and technology reporter