Quad Bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles Security Advice
The following information is being sent on behalf of Police Scotland
Quad Bikes and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) are a major target for thieves and highly organised criminals in the UK. These types of vehicles are easy to steal as thieves can jump on and drive off when you are working on a farm or target them from workshops and barns.
Remote locations such as farms can offer rich pickings due to their rural location and isolation from other neighbours.
Follow the guidance below to build up the layers of security on your farm:
Restrict Access - Consider the access to farmyards and buildings - if gates or entrances are no longer used, then seal them off. Restrict access routes to the premises where possible – if not, ensure they have good natural surveillance from any farmhouses i.e. where you have a good view from an occupied room.
Keep Out of Sight - Try to keep the vehicles out of sight from nearby roads, as thieves will often survey properties looking for vehicles
Close Gates - Keep gates to yards closed, as open gates can be an open invitation to thieves. Lock barns or outbuildings doors at night using a heavy-duty Secured by Design (SBD) approved hasp and staple with security padlock.
Use Clamps & Locks - When leaving vehicles overnight, consider a bespoke Quad/ATV drive on security device which clamps around the wheel and is secured to a concrete floor. Other solutions include using a combination of SBD security approved locks and chains with ground anchors or wheel locks with a high attack rating.
Fit Immobilisation and Tracking Systems - The use of tracking systems can notify the owner the vehicle is being interfered with or moved, allowing for a prompt response to either prevent the theft or detain offenders. SBD have several members who specialise in this area and can advise on the best system and fitting of the product for your vehicle. Remember these vehicles are often exported overseas by gangs so being able to track its location is vital.
Lighting - Lighting is a good deterrent on a farm, especially in the long winter nights and around the barns where your quad/ATV are stored. Consider outside security lights controlled by an automatic time-switch or infra-red beams that react to heat or movement.
Fogging Devices - These systems fill a protected area with an impenetrable cloud of fog which reduces visibility and can fill the barn or outbuildings within seconds of a detection; it is difficult to steal what you cannot see.
Take Notes - Keep a record of serial numbers, chassis and model numbers and take note of any custom marks on the vehicle. Take colour photographs from several angles and additionally take videos with a smartphone if possible.
Mark your Property - Security marking your quad/ATV using an SBD recognised forensic asset marking or etching kit is a highly effective deterrent to thieves and an established method of reducing theft. Remember to use the visible warning labels to show that the property is marked. Trying to remove one of these forensic markers is very difficult and in many cases the police only need a trace amount to establish ownership and gain a conviction. The CESAR System is the National security marking system of the Construction Equipment Association and Agricultural Engineers Association with the aim of reducing plant and farm theft.
Remove Keys - Never leave your keys in the ignition, even if you only briefly leave your quad/ATV unattended, and don’t be an easy target for opportunity theft.
Should you wish to receive further advice on scams or other crime prevention advice please contact us by calling 101 (ask for Tayside Partnerships Interventions and Preventions) or by email at taysidepreventionsandinterventions@scotland.police.uk
New Way To Avoid Financial Fraud - Stop - Hang Up - Call 159
Just launched this week there is a new way to avoid financial fraud. A secure and easy-to-remember phone number to contact your bank on in order to avoid painful scams. This could prove to be the safest way for many to contact with your provider if you have suspicions and concerns about your accounts, or even if you are struggling to find a customer services number.
Stop Scams UK and Global Cyber Alliance have launched the UK-wide 159 call service, which is designed to guarantee consumers a safe route to contacting their banks.
The scheme is urging people to "stop, hang up and call 159" to check calls are for real. The idea is to help those who believe they have been contacted by scammers claiming to be their bank, or by fraudsters who encourage them to transfer money.
Currently, banks that cover over 70% of UK current account customers are signed up to the scheme at launch, although more are expected to follow. Here's a table detailing the firms currently taking part :-
Bank of Scotland
Barclays
Halifax
Lloyds Bank
NatWest
Royal Bank of Scotland
Santander
Starling Bank
Ulster Bank
You can call 159 if you're a customer of most major telecoms firms
The majority of telecoms firms are participating in the scheme, which enables you to call 159 from handsets and landlines if you're a customer. Here are the firms taking part :-
BT (including EE and Plusnet)
Gamma
O2 (including Giffgaff)
Sky
TalkTalk
Three
Virgin Media
When calling 159, you'll be taken through an option menu in which each bank that has signed up to the service is read aloud. Customers are then able to use their telephone keypad to be put through to their bank. You'll then be directed through to your bank's customer service department. Note that calling the service will cost the same as making a national rate call.
For those who bank with firms not yet involved in the 159 pilot – you should continue to contact your bank by using the number on the back of your debit or credit card.
When to call 159
Call 159 if they encounter the following:
- Someone contacts you claiming to be from your bank – even if they do not seem suspicious.
- You are contacted by someone claiming to be an authority figure (such as the police) and told to transfer money – even if the request seems genuine.
- You receive a call about a financial matter and it appears suspicious.
Telecoms Provider Scams - What Should I Do
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