Waikato Police are urging city and rural residents alike to safeguard their quad and farm bikes as the season for such items going missing comes early this year.

Hamilton City Tactical Coordinator, Senior Sergeant Freda Grace says over recent days quad and farm motorcycles had been taken in burglaries across Waikato.

"In Te Kauwhata there have been about 10 such vehicles taken from properties while 10 days ago a quad bike chained to a farm shed on a property near Morrinsville was stolen.

"Then early Friday morning a Kawasaki quad bike was stolen from a farm near Matamata while three dirt bikes including a Husqvarna 650cc motorbike valued at $6000 and two 200cc Suzuki bikes were taken from a padlocked container on a Mangateparu property."

Ms Grace says city residents weren't immune from the attentions of thieves either with a North Hamilton business also targeted by burglars.

"At about 1am on Monday a key holder found a locked shed had been jemmied open at a commercial property on Te Rapa Rd.

"Taken from the shed were two rare vehicles, a 2009 Yamaha Raptor special edition quad bike worth an estimated $9,000 that only had 18km on the clock and a 2010 yellow Suzuki RM125 motor-cross bike that has the tip of the clutch handle broken off that is estimated to be worth $5,000."

The later bike had just recently undergone an engine rebuild and both vehicles are believed to be relatively few in number in this country.

"While Police keep an open mind in relation to if any of the break-ins and thefts are linked and likely end use for the quad and motorbikes.

"Frequently closer towards 01 June Police deal with several complaints from farmers about quad and farm bikes being stolen as farm workers acquire such equipment in preparation for starting work on new farms where it is now common that they have to supply their own vehicle."

Ms Grace says another popular use of such vehicles was for the use of cannabis growers or drug producers where their off-road capability was particularly attractive.

"What we're asking owners to do is to ensure they take adequate steps to secure their farm vehicles. Things like not leaving the keys in them and locking them away out of site.

"A moments inconvenience can mean the difference between keeping your valuable investment and it coming into the clutches of dishonest, opportunistic thieves. The other thing we ask people to be aware of is suspicious vehicles in or around properties."

Ms Grace says police were particularly interested in hearing from people offered deals for such vehicles that appear too good to be true.

"It may be that you are offered a cheap quad bike by someone. What's to say that person who sells it to you doesn't then target you and steal it back along with say some drench or tools you may have on your farm.

"Receiving stolen goods not only puts you at risk of prosecution it places you at risk of also becoming a victim not to mention costing us all in increased insurance premiums."

Anyone who sees any suspicious activity or who has information on who may be responsible for the thefts is asked to contact their nearest Police Station.

Alternatively information can be left with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Source: Waikato Police.