A SPATE of quad bike thefts has hit Monmouthshire.

Gwent Police said it had received 10 reports of bike thefts across the force area in three weeks.

Four of the thefts were in Monmouthshire, one of which was in Caldicot.

One of the burglaries saw two suspects giving drugged meat to a farm dog in an effort to keep it quiet.    

Owners are urged to familiarise themselves with basic crime prevention measures to protect themselves from opportunists.

Among the advice is to property mark vehicles, fit tracker devices, secure them within locked buildings when not in use, keep a record of serial numbers, and take photographs of the vehicles.

Owners can also register their property on www.immobilise.com which allows police forces across the UK to reunite stolen property with their owners.

Sergeant Simon Clark from Gwent Police said: “While we don’t want to cause unnecessary alarm for communities, taking some basic crime prevention measures can help safeguard property.

“Farmers also need to consider their wider farm security measures. CCTV and linked alarms can be a cost-effective way to protect your property. With advances in smart phone technology owners can monitor activity on their farmyards remotely and even be notified when alarm sensors have been triggered.

“Farmers should talk to their insurance companies as in some instances they may qualify for a reduction in their insurance premiums if fitting better security systems.”

He added: “The farming community and rural residents are asked to be vigilant at all times and to report any suspicious vehicles and people immediately by dialing 101.”

If anybody has any concerns they can contact their local neighbourhood policing team.