THIEVES have stolen quad bikes worth tens of thousands of pounds from isolated farms because they see them as easy pickings, according to police.

Since November 13 quad bikes worth a total of about £33,500 have been taken from farm outbuildings, garages and sheds in Ryedale.

On April 26, thieves made off with a Polaris 500, worth £5,000, from a farm in Scrayingham and on April 20, a child's Suzuki LTAT, worth £1,300, and a Suzuki LTX400, worth £5,000, were taken from a property in Snainton.

Community safety officer PC Terry Triffitt said: "We're trying to get the message out to everyone that keeping these vehicles in a locked garage is no longer enough to prevent them being taken."

Safer Ryedale, the community safety partnership, has produced a free video called Easy Pickings, to educate quad bike owners about the newest and best ways to protect their property.

"Doing nothing about securing these valuable items is not an option," said PC Triffitt.

Businessman Richard Wylie, who sells quad bikes at DH Wadsworth & Sons, in Norton, is recommending tough anti-theft measures, including expensive wheel locks and chains.

He said: "If people are spending between £3,000 and £6,000 on one of these vehicles, they have to be prepared to spend a bit more protecting them.

"Some of my customers have had three or four quads stolen, and one customer is on his sixth. People must take this threat seriously."

The video is available from Safer Ryedale on (01653) 600666 or from www.ryesafe.co.uk