South West farmers told to be vigilant amid surge in ATV thefts

Farmers in the South West have been told to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police following a sharp rise in quad bikes.

The South West saw a notable rise in quad bike thefts in 2022, and the continued increase in thefts this year has prompted a warning to farmers to ramp up their security.

Latest theft claims figures from rural insurer NFU Mutual show a 26% annual increase in the cost of quad theft, bringing the total value to £2.8m in 2022.

Quad thefts at busy lambing time can create additional challenges for many smaller family farms, on top of caring for their sheep when they are at their most vulnerable.