Motorcycle Thefts are Falling

Motorcycle theft rates are reported to have been significantly declining. Read our latest blog to learn more about this positive news.

The theft of powered two wheeled vehicles (PTWs), including mopeds, scooters and motorcycles, is a major worry for riders as well as insurers, law enforcement and the motorcycling industry. Although motorcycle theft in the UK had been increasing since 2010 the latest data from the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) shows that motorcycle theft is now at its lowest level since 2017. Figures for the first 8 months of 2024 show that thefts have declined by 7.9% year on year, which is great news.

While this downward trend in motorcycle thefts is clearly welcome news for all bikers it doesn’t mean people should become complacent about motorbike security.

Motorcycling Industry Initiatives

Co-ordinated industry-wide initiatives have been cited as a primary reason motorcycle thefts have been declining. The MCIA secured system, for example, is a rating system that allocates a star for each recognised security feature fitted to new powered two wheelers (PTWs). Although many new PTWs are equipped with valuable anti-theft features there had been no way for buyers to easily compare these protections. The ‘MCIA Secured’ star rating system provides a simple but effective way for shoppers to compare the verified security ratings of a wide variety of vehicles.

Public awareness campaigns have also been highly effective in raising the attention to bike security from riders. Increased awareness has prompted many PTW riders to take a close look at their bike security, both at home and when out and about. Simple precautions to beef up bike security and avoid risks as well as remaining vigilant are recognised for having a positive impact on PTW theft.

Police forces throughout the UK continue to be very active in combatting PTW theft. Campaigns such as the ‘Lock, Chain and Cover’ from the Met Police have been very effective in raising security awareness and helping bikers take active security precautions. And forces have been using newer, faster motorbikes in pursuits as well as ‘stinger’ devices to deflate tyres and prevent thieves from getting away. In Dorset, the police force joined forces with the DocBike charity to launch their own anti-theft initiative. This offered Dorset motorcycle owners the opportunity to purchase an alarmed disc lock at a significantly reduced price. Locks were supplied along with valuable motorcycling safety and security guidance.

More Bikes are Stolen in the UK than are Bought New

While its clearly great to hear how motorbike thefts have massively declined its important to remember that around £3 million worth of valuable powered two wheeled vehicles continue to be stolen from UK streets every month. Many thefts are carried out by experienced thieves who know which motorcycles and scooters they can quickly disassemble and sell for parts on the black market. Key points to keep in mind are:

• Most thefts occur in large urban areas.
• Thefts are often carried out by a limited number of well known, experienced, highly organised gangs.
• 80% of bikes are directly stolen from the owner`s home.
• Thefts are concentrated around Central London, often linked to patterns of commuting.
• The top UK areas for theft include West Yorkshire, West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
• The top four makes of motorcycle that account for over 85 per cent of thefts are Hondas, Yamahas, Kawasaki`s, and Suzuki`s.
• The Honda CBR 600 is one of the most commonly stolen bikes.
• In 2022 the most stolen model was the popular Honda WW 125. 

Practical PTW Security Advice

Arguably, the most valuable contribution toward making PTWs more secure and reducing incidents of theft has been made by bike owners themselves, who have heeded the valuable security advice provided by police, insurers and the motorcycling industry. The excellent Bikers United website is a free resource where PTW riders come together to help one another and make it much harder for thieves to operate successfully. They provide this simple, actionable security advice:

“Make your bike less visible, make it loud and make sure it takes as much time as possible for the thieves to try and steal it.”

The longer it takes for a thief to overcome security protections and steal a PTW the greater the risk of the theft being seen and challenged. It is widely recommended that, as a minimum, a combination of the following three devices provide excellent security protection for PTWs:

1. A ground anchor (or immovable anchor point)
2. A high security lock and chain set
3. A disc lock.

Should a thief be successful in cutting through the high security chain then the disc lock prevents the wheels from being turned. But these three PTW security protections should be considered the absolute minimum. As a rule, you should use as many precautions as possible.

 When at home, your valuable PTW should ideally be securely locked away somewhere it can’t be easily seen. Inside a secure, locked garage, shed or bike storage locker are primary options. And these should be protected with motion-activated security lighting and alarms. And when inside the garage, shed or locker the valuable bike should still be securely chained to a ground anchor or immovable anchor point with an additional disc lock in place. If its not possible to use a garage or shed then consider alternative options to conceal and cover the motorbike.

Another valuable security enhancement is to use a motorcycle security alarm. These devices are not only good for when the PTW is at home, they will also scare would-be thieves away if they attempt to steal a bike from wherever it is parked when out and about. Some insurance providers will even provide a discount if an approved PTW alarm system is installed.

Security labelling is another highly valuable precaution, widely recommended by police forces. As noted, most PTW thefts these days result in disassembly with parts then being sold on the black market or shipped overseas. Security labelling all of the key PTW components using microdots, UV etching or tamper-evident labelling, can act as a powerful anti-theft deterrent and will help police identify owners when parts are recovered.

Importantly, bikers are reminded that many thefts occur simply due to rider oversight and failure to implement security precautions when out an about or when at home. Riders might stop briefly to pop into a shop or their bank, leaving their valuable bike unattended for just a few minutes. But this is precisely what experienced motorbike thieves look out for and will quickly scoop up an unsecure motorbike into the back of their van in seconds. Similarly, bikers sometimes overlook the need for rigorous PTW security habits at home where many thefts occur. So its vitally important to get into the routine of always locking the motorcycle to an immovable anchor point, fitting the disc lock and enabling the bike alarm, even if the motorcycle is left unattended for just a few minutes or stored inside a locked garage or shed.

For more information on Motorcycle Thefts are Falling talk to Insight Security