A HIGH-SPEED police chase through the Yorkshire Dales ended with the arrest of a man in Silsden early on Tuesday morning.

Officers pursued a man riding a stolen quad bike from Coniston Cold, near Skipton, along the A629 and surrounding roads into Silsden.

The suspect abandoned the vehicle on a housing estate and ran away, but was found by police hiding between nearby bins.

The heavy police presence in Silsden through the early hours prompted residents commenting on Facebook to highlight recent crime issues in the town.

They said the incident showed the importance of people attending a public meeting organised by Silsden Neighbourhood Watch, scheduled for yesterday.

The incident began at about 2am on Tuesday when an officer from North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, on patrol in the Coniston Cold area, spotted a quad bike being driven in suspicious circumstances.

The vehicle failed to stop, and was pursued by Roads Policing Group officers towards Silsden.

After the chase, a 20-year-old man from Bradford was arrested on suspicion of burglary, dangerous driving and failing to stop. He has been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

The quad bike was recovered by police, and will be forensically examined. It had been stolen from a garage in a remote, rural area near Austwick.

In Silsden, the town’s Neighbourhood Watch recently announced the public meeting in response to concerns raised by residents about ongoing crime. Among those invited to attend were police and Keighley MP John Grogan.

A Neighbourhood Watch spokesman said: “The main issues have been ongoing thefts from property, including houses and particularly thefts of cars and items from vehicles.

“There was also a car-jacking two weeks ago and several businesses have suffered from equipment and stock being stolen.

“Residents are concerned about the high levels of crime and police response/support to the local community.”

Silsden Neighbourhood Watch hoped the meeting would attract a good attendance and allow people to set out concrete actions that would improve the situation for everyone.

The latest theft came after a campaign in recent months by North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce to raise awareness of the importance of quad bike security in recent months, particularly in the Craven area.

PCSO Sally Breen, from the Taskforce, said North Yorkshire is a very safe place, but criminals travelled into the county targeting isolated areas.

She added: “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

Anyone aware of suspicious activity should contact contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.