Can I Keep Them?

[Phil P]

Ok joking aside, just had a bunch of quad bikes (5) chasing hares across my wheat and winter barley.

Anyway one got stuck and one must have cut out or wouldn’t start, so I now have two very tidy quads in my possession .

Called the police, still waiting for them to show, bit late now anyway!
Question is what should I do with the bikes? One still has keys in (was still running stuck) the other must have cut out or wouldn’t start when they got disturbed but hasn’t got keys (no visible damage to ignition).
I’m guessing they will more than likely be stolen but what’s the legality’s?
Hand Them over to plod?
Is there any way of tracing the owner’s?
No reg plate, will check for serial numbers In the morning.

 

[ImLost]

Check for serial numbers etc ASAP

Oh... and don't be surprised if your place is ransacked in the night

 

[michael N123]

I’d lock everything up tonight if I was you

maybe leave the keys in them 2 quads but with some sugar in the fuel tank so they don’t get to far...

 

[Phil P]

Check for serial numbers etc ASAP

Oh... and don't be surprised if your place is ransacked in the night

Fortunately this field/land is away from the yard but I can see it/heard them on there while out!
Removed them with the stealth of darkness so hopefully they won’t know where they are now, but admittedly I am a little worried!

 

[Phil P]

I’d lock everything up tonight if I was you

maybe leave the keys in them 2 quads but with some sugar in the fuel tank so they don’t get to far...

We have cctv, security lighting alarmed buildings and dogs, what more can you do!
This is the second night this week they’ve been on the same field coursing, hopefully it may make them think twice, but I’m doubtful

 

[Walton2]

Impound them until the damage to crop is paid for. If it isn’t paid, you can sell them at auction to recover those costs, and all the other costs you can think of concerning the incident.

 

[Phil P]

Impound them until the damage to crop is paid for. If it isn’t paid, you can sell them at auction to recover those costs, and all the other costs you can think of concerning the incident.

This is an option if they’re not stolen! I’m doubtful the owners (if they are the owners) will be making themselves know in a hurry, not at the speed they left anyway.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Be some poor sods quads they’ve thieved

 

[Phil P]

Be some poor sods quads they’ve thieved

This is what I suspect, usually I’d expect the ignition to be damaged if stolen and they look well maintained. They’ve also gone to the trouble of fitting carry boxes and led light bars.
I suppose it’s not unheard of for the keys to be left in though

Do the hares add any value

 

[vantage]

Do the hares add any value

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

Down here they use any four wheel drive motor they can steal and just roar around any newly sown crops. Most farmers here have dug trenches and put in large obstacles in gateways. However quad bikes are a new one to be used and easier for them to make access to fields.

They will very likely be stolen quads and it is worrying that your local police did not come out immediately. In this area since we have had so much trouble there is now a dedicated rural team who are beginning to have an effect on reducing the issues from the Travelling community. The NFU have regular meetings with the PCC and Chief Constable (who was useless in Sussex) who is new and is putting money into the rural team.
Sadly they have nearly wiped out all the Hares with us and are now turning to Deer.

 

[Dave6170]

You should of said they had guns, police would be there straight away!

 

[Fendt516profi]

Be careful when police turn up that your not done for handling stolen goods

 

[solo]

@Right-arm fast , you’re not alone with trespass problems

 

[Exfarmer]

If they are stolen, they belong either to the original owner or the insurance company if they have paid out. Sadly I think you have little legal claim, even if the riders are the owners!
I would think the owners should be traceable by the chassis numbers

 

[Steevo]

Ok joking aside, just had a bunch of quad bikes (5) chasing hares across my wheat and winter barley.

Anyway one got stuck and one must have cut out or wouldn’t start, so I now have two very tidy quads in my possession .

Called the police, still waiting for them to show, bit late now anyway!
Question is what should I do with the bikes? One still has keys in (was still running stuck) the other must have cut out or wouldn’t start when they got disturbed but hasn’t got keys (no visible damage to ignition).
I’m guessing they will more than likely be stolen but what’s the legality’s?
Hand Them over to plod?
Is there any way of tracing the owner’s?
No reg plate, will check for serial numbers In the morning.

I think you've done the right thing.

I'd like to think the Police will advise you further.

 

[czechmate]

Crikey, it looks wet

 

[Phil P]

Ok, so it is said in jest about keeping them I have no intention, I’m pretty sure plod will soon remove them!

Update -
As far as I’m aware police never showed, waited for best part of 4 hours and no sign so went to bed. Would have been to late anyway as was all over it about 20 minutes.
We do have a dedicated rural crime officer who I will call this morning, trouble is he doesn’t have a dedicated vehicle so not sure when he’ll turn up! a bit pointless really . My brother in-law is quite high up in the police so I may have a chat with him to see what he thinks.

 

[Phil P]

Crikey, it looks wet

It’s a low spot in the field that got ploughed but we only drilled up to it. It had p!ssed it down all day (and most of the week as well)

 

[Andrew]

You should of said they had guns, police would be there straight away!

No they wouldn’t. When we got robbed they had guns. Response time was 22 mins. From us to the county police headquarters is 18 minutes driving normally and obey the speed limits. They don’t put themselves in the way of people like that with weapons.

However if you said you had a gun and were going to shoot them they may have been quicker.