Quad bike thefts increase in Yorkshire's rural areas as MP calls for tougher restrictions to help combat crime

Thefts of agricultural machinery and equipment - especially quad bikes - have ramped up as highly organised criminal gangs move to targeting rural areas with the lifting of Covid lockdown restrictions and a developing cost of living crisis.

A shortage in new and second-hand farm machinery is fuelling a surge in quad theft which has been compounded by global supply chain problems and delays, Covid, Brexit and the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The factors have led to there being an increased demand on the black market, and, an MP has called for law changes in a Ten Minute Rule Bill put to The House of Commons earlier this month.

However, Westerdale sheep farmer, Richard Findlay says that security in rural areas, such as the North York Moors where he has 240 acres of his own farmland and sheep rights over a further 1000 acres, is getting harder to monitor due to lifestyle changes and increased numbers of visitors to the countryside since lockdowns and travel restrictions.