FRESH calls have been issued to farmers to keep quad bikes and valuables locked up as figures revealed the extent of the problem in Cumbria.

Eighty-six quad bike thefts have been investigated by police in the last 12 months, which the Police and Crime Commissioner's Office said marked an increase for the county.

And, overnight last Monday, a quad bike was reported stolen from an address in Burton-in-Kendal. It is believed it was removed via the A6070.

Peter McCall, Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), said: “We are incredibly fortunate in Cumbria that we have low levels of crime in our rural communities so when there is an increase in any type of crime the police want to deal with it robustly.

“Any victim of theft will tell you the feeling of violation they have felt when their property is broken into and taken from them. We don’t want anyone to feel this way.”

To help tackle the problem, PCC McCall and representatives of Cumbria Police met with members of the farming community, suppliers, insurers and quad bike manufacturers at a meeting in Penrith. They looked at ways to drive down the number of thefts.

PCC McCall also said he had met with the Policing Minister this week and raised the issue of a lack of registration of quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles - a practice which makes them more difficult to sell once stolen.

Andy Slattery, Cumbria Police’s assistant chief constable, said: “Often when the police become involved it is too late.

"We would urge everyone in rural communities to make it as difficult as possible for the thieves.

"As a bare minimum all farmers should ensure that the keys are removed and overnight your quad bike is in a locked shed. We also need the rural community to be our eyes and ears."