POLICE are urging rural residents to stay vigilant after three quad bike thieves were thwarted in the act.

At about 9pm on Monday a woman spotted three men in the carport at her rural property near Thirsk.

She challenged them and they ran away empty-handed.

Police searched the area with a police dog, but the men were not located.

However, one of them dropped a pair of bolt croppers, which have been recovered for forensic examination.

A quad bike that had been parked in the carport appeared to have been moved by the men.

PCSO Bryan Tongue, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said: “I would ask anyone who owns a quad bike, particularly if they live in a rural or isolated area, to take extra steps to ensure their vehicles are always left safe and secure.

“It’s far better to spend some time and money now on high-quality security measures, rather than have to go through the inconvenience and upset of having your quad bike stolen.”

Officers investigating the attempted theft are appealing for information – anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, quoting reference 12190177081.