POLICE arrested three men in Kildwick this morning
after they raced past officers the wrong way down a dual carriageway on a
stolen vehicle.
The incident happened at 1.10am
today on the A629 after the machine had been taken from Kilnsey.
Officers tweeted: “Fantastic work by all those involved
targeting cross-border criminality overnight.
“Quad bike passes me and fails to stop. Rider rides wrong
way on A629 dual carriageway. Quad bike recovered and three arrested. Just
waiting for owner to come forward now.”
The chase started after an officer from North Yorkshire
Police’s Roads Policing Group on patrol spotted the quad bike being driven in
suspicious circumstances. It was being followed closely behind by a VW Golf.
Both vehicles were pursued by the officer along the A629
dual carriageway towards Steeton, West Yorkshire .
The driver of the quad then drove the wrong way down the
Kildwick to Steeton carriageway with its lights off before the officer lost
sight of it.
Officers deployed from West Yorkshire Police’s Roads
Policing Unit located the quad and VW Gold leading to the quad being abandoned
in Lorne Street , Holmewood,
Bradford. The car was stopped in Broadstone Way ,
Dudley Hill, Bradford .
A 34-year-old man from Gildersome, a 19-year-old man from Bradford ,
and a 21-year-old man from Bradford were arrested on
suspicion of theft.
All three remain in police custody for questioning.
The quad bike is believed to have been stolen from Skipton
and was recovered by police.
North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task force have been raising
awareness of the importance of quad bike security in recent months,
particularly in the Craven area.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “North
Yorkshire is a very safe place, but unfortunately we know that
criminals travel into our county targeting isolated areas. High-profile operations
and ongoing work by the Rural Taskforce is helping make Craven a no-go area for
cross-border criminals – but we need residents’ assistance to make it even
safer.
“I am urging anyone who owns a Land Rover or a quad bike –
and particularly if they live in a rural area – to take extra steps to ensure
their vehicles are left safe and secure. It’s much better to spend a bit of
time and money now on better security than to go through the inconvenience and
upset of having your vehicle stolen.
“Members of the public act as our eyes and ears in rural
areas, and so if you are aware of any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to
contact us, and we will take action.”
Owners of quad bikes and Land Rovers are being asked to
follow this crime prevention advice:
Always leave your vehicle locked and alarmed if possible
Consider fitting an after-market approved immobiliser
Park in a locked garage or other secure area if you have
one, or in a well-lit open space if not
Never leave the vehicle’s keys in the ignition, in the same
outbuilding as the vehicle, or near your front door inside your home.
Be vigilant when using your vehicle for anyone taking an
interest in it
Consider fitting a transponder-based security marking system
and tracker device
Have the vehicle’s windows etched with the vehicle
identification number
If you are aware of any suspicious activity, contact North
Yorkshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.