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We are excited to announce the availability of the excellent Quad Shield ATV and UTV wheel clamp security device from our store. Read on to learn more about this essential theft protection device.
Quad Bikes, UTVs and ATVs - Key Differences
Quad bikes, UTVs and ATVs are all off road vehicles. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they refer to different types and designs of off road vehicles.
The first important clarification is that the term Quad Bike is simply another name for an ATV or ‘All-Terrain-Vehicle’. The primary characteristics of these vehicles are straddle seats, like motorcycles, handlebars for steering, no cabins and limited cargo carrying space. They are ridden like motorbikes and some have passenger seats. These nimble vehicles are typically used for recreational riding and light utility work.
UTVs or Utility Task Vehicles are larger and more robust. Their characteristics include side by side seating, just like a car, along with a steering wheel. They often have cabins or roll cages with doors and a roof. They also feature useful cargo carrying space much like a small off-road pickup truck and some models can carry between 2 and 6 passengers. These vehicles are used in some recreational activities, such as sand dune racing, and they are now ubiquitous pieces of essential farm and agricultural equipment. Farmers rely on these slower, more stable off-road vehicles to carry out essential, heavy duty farm labour tasks.
ATVs generally don’t come with safety equipment, although some do have roll bars. UTVs, however, are fitted with seatbelts as standard. UTVs can also have windshields and roll bars, making them far safer than ATVs.
UTV and ATV Theft in the UK
UTV and ATV theft in the UK has been increasing, especially in the countryside where these vehicles are relied upon by farms and rural businesses. In 2023 the cost of quad bike and UTV theft reported to the NFU Mutual insurance company was estimated at £3.2 million, 9% higher than the previous year. Although the use of tracking devices and immobilisers is having a positive impact on this form of crime these valuable vehicles continue to be a prime target for criminals.
Crime hotspots in the UK include West Wales where 60 quad bikes were stolen in 2024. The Midlands, Yorkshire and the South East have also been significantly affected by rural vehicle thefts.
Vehicle thieves use a variety of techniques. Some vehicle thefts are simply opportunistic, wherein criminals take advantage of unsecured ATVs and UTVs to drive them away. Another tactic used by organised criminals is to load these valuable four-wheel-drive, off-road vehicles onto trailers. And some modern UTV models are susceptible to keyless thefts, also known as relay attacks. This form of vehicle theft exploits keyless vehicle starting systems by intercepting and amplifying the signal from the vehicle’s keyless fob, enabling the UTV to be started and driven away without needing a physical key.
Organised Crime Responsible for Most ATV and UTV Thefts
Although opportunistic ATV and UTV thefts do occur, the majority of crimes in the UK are primarily carried out by organised crime groups (OCGs). Gangs of well-equipped, experienced, highly mobile criminals operate across the country, often moving stolen vehicles between regions very quickly to avoid detection.
Specialised rural OCGs often focus exclusively on expensive agricultural equipment and vehicles. These gangs often have international connections and target very specific vehicle models which are then shipped to other countries including Ireland, Eastern Europe and North Africa. Stolen vehicles and machinery are also often disassembled in specialised ‘chop shops’ to be subsequently shipped and sold as parts.
Highly organised OCGs pay attention to social media posts and scout rural locations and farms, on the lookout for the UTVs and ATVs they know they can sell or dismantle for parts. Most thefts from these rural properties are carried out at night, between 10pm and 4am. The criminals responsible will have previously assessed the location and determined the exact whereabouts of the machines they want to steal, along with some knowledge of what security protections are in place.
Essential UTV and ATV Security
We have previously covered the importance of farm and rural security.
- How to Safeguard Your Farm and Equipment
- Widespread Anxiety as the Cost of Rural Crime Skyrockets
- Rural Crime Surge Prompts Calls for Vigilance
The bottom line is that farms and rural users of ATVs and UTVs can protect their valuable equipment from even the most organised criminals by taking sensible precautions.
One of the most important precautions ATV and UTV owners can take is to establish a security mindset wherein nothing is ever overlooked. This means paying attention to any areas or behaviours in which security is lax or weak. Always be on the lookout for security failings and never delay fixing them.
Property and perimeter security is always vitally important. This means paying attention to all boundaries, walls, fences, gates, windows and doors. While many rural properties and farms are spread over acres of land, making it difficult to fully protect all boundaries, key areas including barns and equipment storage yards, can be rigorously secured. Gates should always be closed and locked, doors should also be closed and locked with all hinges in a good state of repair. If equipment is stored inside barns or sheds, windows should be obscured and secured.
Wherever possible, technology should be used to bolster security. Motion activated lighting around farm yards and barns, for example, is a powerful deterrent as night time raiders like to carry out their crimes in the dark. And CCTV cameras have become very affordable and easy to both install and link to mobile phones for immediate alerts, when triggered.
Tracking devices and immobilisers are also known to be deterring UTV and ATV thieves. All high value machinery, including ATVs and UTVs, should be fitted with GPS tracking devices. Geofencing systems might also be employed, wherein alerts are triggered if tracked equipment is ever moved across defined boundaries.
Another important security precaution that should never be overlooked is to ensure vehicle keys are protected. Keyless theft or relay attacks, as previously described, intercept and amplify the signal from a vehicle’s key fob, enabling the UTV to be started without the key. Key fobs of this type should ideally be stored in a signal blocking container and kept away from doors and windows.
Immobilisers and physical protection devices are also extremely valuable and easy to use. When UTVs or ATVs are not being used they should always be physically immobilised and ideally secured somewhere they can’t be seen by any criminals on the lookout for viable targets.
How the Quad Shield ATV & UTV Wheel Clamp Works
If you take a look at the wide range of high quality, carefully curated security products in our store you can see that we are great exponents of practical, physical security. We offer the best available ground anchors, high security chains, padlocks and much more. These valuable devices are now widely used by many farms and rural properties to bolster security and protect valuable equipment against theft. And we are very pleased add the excellent Quad Shield ATV and UTV Wheel Clamp to our range.
This innovative, unique wheel clamp is designed to be firmly bolted to a concrete substrate using the fixing bolts provided. The wheel clamp then acts as a robust ground anchor, preventing the protected ATV or UTV from being either driven away or lifted.
Once installed the security wheel clamp is incredibly easy to use. The ATV or UTV is simply driven forward so that the front wheel engages with the Quad Shield wheel clamp. The top of the wheel is then enclosed by pulling the lever on the Quad Shield, over the wheel and this is then secured in place by pushing the two locks, with no need to use the key. The clamped wheel can then be quickly released, to free up the vehicle, using the key to unlock the dual locks. The locks are robustly protected in anti-pick, anti-drill steel casing.
Importantly, this exceptional security device has achieved Sold Secure Diamond rating, the highest possible security rating from Sold Secure labs. This means the device has easily withstood severe, prolonged attacks from Sold Secure professionals, who know all of the attack techniques used by professional criminals. This anti theft protection device is not only an effective physical barrier, it also acts as a powerful, visible theft deterrent.
The Quad Shield works with all ATVs and UTVs with tyre diameters up to 685mm or 27 inches and tyre widths up to 265mm or 10.5 inches. And vehicles remain secure even if the tyre is deflated.
For more information on Introducing the Quad Shield ATV and UTV Security Device talk to Insight Security