GWENT Police has issued a warning to farmers following a spate of quad bike thefts across the force area.

In three weeks, officers received reports of 10 quad bike thefts from farms and private properties across Gwent.

One of the burglaries saw two suspects giving drugged meat to a farm dog in an effort to keep the dog quiet.    

The force is urging owners to familiarise themselves with basic crime prevention measures to protect themselves from opportunists.

Among the advice is to properly mark vehicles, fit tracker devices, secure them within locked buildings when not in use, keep a record of serial numbers, and take photographs of the vehicles.

Officers are urging owners to secure quad bikes to ground anchor points using high security chains and padlocks, and to remove the key from the ignition even if only leaving it for a short period of time.

They’re also urging owners to register their property on Immobilise.com, which allows police forces across the UK to reunite stolen property with their owners.??Sergeant Simon Clark from Gwent Police said: “Quad bikes are expensive and essential tools for farmers and their loss can have a big impact on a business both financially and operationally.

“The longer nights along with the bad weather in recent weeks are ideal cover for thieves to go about their activities undetected. While we don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm for communities, taking some basic crime prevention measures can help safeguard property.

“Farmers also need to consider their wider farm security measures. CCTV and linked alarms can be a cost effective way to protect your property. With advances in smart phone technology owners can monitor activity on their farm yards remotely and even be notified when alarm sensors have been triggered. Farmers should talk to their insurance companies as in some instances they may qualify for a reduction in their insurance premiums if fitting better security systems.”

He added: “The farming community and rural residents are asked to be vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious vehicles and people immediately by dialing 101.”

Gwent Police operates a successful farm watch scheme with 1000 farming members with a dedicated coordinator based at Risca police station. To access the scheme you can sign up to OWL (online watch scheme) or contact your local police station to become a member.

Officers will continue to work with farmers to give crime prevention advice and gather intelligence to target patrols with an aim to deter these offences being committed in the first place. If you have any concerns then please contact your local Neighbourhood Policing Team or our Farm Watch coordinator at Risca police station, via 101 or [email protected].