Several arrests have been made by police during an operation targeting rural crime.
Operation Lantern, which provides a co-ordinated response to thefts from farms in the county, including enhanced response to localised rural crime and support for those affected rural communities, saw officers in Eden area crack down on crime over the weekend.
On Friday at around 5.30pm, officers stopped a suspicious van on the A66 near Warcop.
The two occupants – a 20-year-old man from Coundon and a 16-year-old from West Auckland – were both arrested on suspicion of burglary and taking a vehicle without consent.
Officers seized the van they were travelling in and the quad bike inside the van. The quad bike has been linked to a theft from a property in the Eden area reported to police earlier that afternoon.
Both have been released on police bail while officers continue with their investigation.
At around 9.20pm, officers stopped a vehicle on the M6 south of Penrith transporting three quadbikes. The quadbikes were suspected of being stolen and all three were seized by police.
The driver – a 26-year-old man from the South Yorkshire area – was arrested on suspicion of drug driving and driving without insurance. The van he was driving was also seized.
On Saturday, at around 5.30pm, a flatbed vehicle transporting two quad bikes was stopped in the Kirkby Thore area, east of Penrith.
The quad bikes were found to be legitimately owned. However, the driver was discovered to be driving without insurance and so his vehicle was seized.
Chief Inspector Lee Skelton said: “These are just the latest proactive successes we have seen under Operation Lantern as our officers work relentlessly to stop those who travel here to commit crime, as well as those from Cumbria who seek to prey on rural residents.
“Much of the proactive work this weekend has come from officers using an experienced eye to spot suspicious activity. However, we are also heavily reliant on community intelligence to guide our efforts, which is why it is so important that local people act as our eyes and ears.
“We continue to call on people to report any suspicious activity immediately so that the response can be swift and effective and for those in the farming community who have yet to sign up, to join their local farm WhatsApp watch groups.”
People legitimately transporting quad bikes are advised that they are likely to be stopped by police to check they are the rightful owners of the vehicles.
A spokesman said: “If you are legitimately transporting your quad bikes and are stopped, we ask for patience and understanding towards those officers proactively working to keep vehicles like yours safe from criminals.
“Quad bike owners are urged to take steps to lock down and secure their vehicles. Even taking basic steps such as locking and keeping the key away from the vehicle – not left in the ignition – can make a significant difference to deterring criminals.
“Owners are also urged to keep a note of serial numbers and any other identifying details of their vehicle, and to consider using GPS or other tracking systems which will help give the police the best chance possible of recovering your vehicle if it is stolen.
“Also consider signs and other deterrents such as use of CCTV cameras to help make your property as difficult a target for thieves as possible.”
