Massive rise in tractor and quad bike theft. 14 Sep 09. By Alan Hyder. Tractor theft has risen by a massive 149 per cent because of the recession – and theft of quad bikes has risen by 83 per cent. The record figures are a result of organised gangs “making more money … Manager of TER, Tim Purbrick, said: “The used equipment trade is like a huge money laundering machine where criminals push stolen equipment into the trade at one end and get clean cash out at the other . …

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