Police Advisory: Rising Rate Of Motorcycle Theft
Inspector Robert Cardwell, Officer in Charge of the Roads Policing Unit, is advising motorcycle owners to take steps to safeguard their motorcycles, saying the “rising rate of motorcycle theft is disproportionate to other recorded crimes which are trending down.”
“To date there have been 728 such reports compared to 599 at the same time last year,” Inspector Cardwell said. “The motorcycles most frequently subject of these reports are the Honda Scoopy, Symax HD125 and the Yamaha Nouvo.
“Owners of these motorcycle types are alerted that these motorcycles are being targeted for theft by motorcycle thieves and as such are strongly encouraged to make use of secondary locks at all times which is the strongest deterrent of theft.
“The most common area where motorcycles are ‘taken without the owner’s consent’ is in the City of Hamilton from virtually every motorcycle parking area,” continued Inspector Cardwell.
“Whilst many of these areas are covered by CCTV, identification of thieves is made difficult by the thieves themselves being aware CCTV is recording them and they disguise themselves or cover their faces with dark visor helmets.
Inspector Cardwell’s full statement follows below:
The Bermuda Police Service continues to regularly record incidents where motorcycles are reported to have been ‘taken without the owner’s consent’ – referred to as TWOC.
To date there have been 728 such reports compared to 599 at the same time last year.
The rising rate of motorcycle theft is disproportionate to other recorded crimes which are trending down. The motorcycles most frequently subject of these reports are the Honda Scoopy, Symax HD125 and the Yamaha Nouvo. Owners of these motorcycle types are alerted that these motorcycles are being targeted for theft by motorcycle thieves and as such are strongly encouraged to make use of secondary locks at all times which is the strongest deterrent of theft.
The most common area where motorcycles are ‘taken without the owner’s consent’ is in the City of Hamilton from virtually every motorcycle parking area. Whilst many of these areas are covered by CCTV, identification of thieves is made difficult by the thieves themselves being aware CCTV is recording them and they disguise themselves or cover their faces with dark visor helmets.
All motorcycle owners are encouraged to take steps to safeguard their motorcycles. Firstly, ensure and double check that you have not left the keys in the ignition, the rear lock-box or seat lock. Always use a secondary lock in addition to the handlebar lock.
During the hours of darkness motorcycles should be parked in a well-lit area.
Motorcycles are stolen for a number of reasons. This includes, to have the engine and frame numbers re-stamped and sold on, to be stripped for parts, joy riding or to commit another crime.
To reverse the rising rate of motorcycle theft the Roads Policing Unit has realigned resources within the Unit to concentrate on this area of crime. In the short time of operation a number of stolen motorcycles have been recovered and arrests have been made.
Additionally the entire police service have been alerted to the types and models of motorcycles being stolen and will be targeting riders of these motorcycles so that frame and engine numbers can be checked and validated.
In some instances stolen motorcycles are being recovered from persons who have legitimately purchased them in responding to a ‘motorcycle for sale’ advertisement.
Commonly, where stolen motorcycles are being sold to an unwitting buyer, these motorcycles have frame and engine numbers that have been re-stamped. Re-stamping is a technique used by motorcycle thieves to hide the fact that the motorcycle is in fact stolen.
Before purchasing a motorcycle that has been advertised for sale, members of the public are encouraged to be very cautious and ensure that what they are purchasing is in fact a legitimate purchase. They should have all the details of the person selling the motorcycle beyond a signature on a bill of sale. This would include a full name, address, date of birth and contact numbers of the seller.
A purchaser should inspect the frame and engine numbers on the motorcycle. In a factory stamp the numbers and letters are in perfect alignment and each letter and number is consistent in appearance. If in doubt the intended purchaser should make contact with either the police service or the Department of Transportation to verify engine and frame numbers with a registration plate.
I think in order to help discourage these thieves, Police should start thinking a little more innovative. I think a great idea would be for the Police to start planting “Bait bikes” over the island, maybe from some of the bikes they currently have impounded. When someone attempts to steal the bike, lock them up without question. Not only will it catch some of these guys read handed, but it will also put huge doubt in other thieves minds in the future when word gets around, since they are not going to be sure what bike is a bait bike or a regular bike. I settled with this idea when I realized my first idea of breaking their fingers when caught stealing may not be too popular..
Bait Car is one of my favourite progams. The excuses when the stupid thieves are caught redhanded are hilarious.
So far I have never been victim of a bike theft. When a new bike is needed the first thing I do is check with BPS to see what is popular with the thieves, then buy something else.
I understand that buying a bike that the thieves don’t want makes sense, but you shouldn’t have to do that. You should be able to buy any vehicle with your hard working money you want, without fear of one of these thieving parasites trying to take it. I’m serious when I say, the day one of them is caught in the act and someone beats them to within an inch of their life, our whole country should celebrate..
No, one should not but this is the new Bermuda. The thievery has been around for some time. At one point it was driven by frustration at dealers which did not have parts. Don’t think that this is the case so much anymore.
As one gets older a bike is less something to look good on & more of a practical thing to get from A to B.
When caught the fines are not fitting the crimes. When was the last time a court ordered the replacement of a stolen bike plus costs for inconvenience to the person who the bike was stolen from?
I’d be in favour or lopping off a whole hand, that would surely teach them!
The CCTV camera on my building 103 Front Street has been filming the moon for the last several months maybe years and the lot across the street has been the scene of several crimes including dozens of bikes. Unexplainable considering the money already spent.
Lovely!
These stolen cycles are used to commit crime.
Quite obvious; and then disposed of or abandoned.
How cycles are recovered or does TCD pass anything….
Fantastic idea as well as your original thought
They need gps chips in these bikes or something. This island is soo small yet once your bike is stolen its gone for good.
Hide an iphone in a bait bike, simple.
Wish they could hide an angry pit bull or something in a bait bike. Nasty thieves.
for real they act like they care but after d bike gone unless you kno d people that took it you AINT NEVER seein it again…and they could care less..
I have a tracking system in my bike. sends me a text if my bike moves
What system is this?
Don’t I know.. They got mine right outside my house a couple of weeks ago.. They only take them for the plastic. Need to keep an eye open for closed in vans moving at night.
I’ve had several bikes stolen and finally gave up and got a car. The thieves are getting more and more tricky! One of my bikes was actually put on a truck in town in broad daylight. But from CCTV they couldn’t identify the thieves or the truck. Smh.
Having had my bike stolen, find that reporting it to police only makes statistics. When I spoke with Southside Police Station the woman that answered the phone took all my details, then told me to tell them when I found it. Having suffered two other incidents in which the Police have been involved over the years, have now come to the conclusion it is totally pointless reporting anything as they are not interested.
You might think that they are not interested, but let’s look at this logically. Bike theft is rampant, so do you honestly think that the Police are going to assign your bike theft report to an officer whereby he spends time tracking it down? Here’s how it works. Your report has the cycle entered into a database. This is then cross-referenced against reports of found cycles, cycles checked by patrols, accidents, etc.
I understand what you are saying, but as a group that are paid for by the taxpayer to do a job…then they should do their job to the best of their ability. They should not ask a member of the public to tell them when they found it, they have a responsibility to the public to inform them if their items have been found. When they become members of the Police force they sign up to uphold a law called ‘Duty of Care’. This is a law which protects the public and ensures that they are actually doing there job. In this case, without knowing both sides believe they have failed this person and more importantly the public.
Having watched the Police Force over the years change in everything they do have the following concerns:
1. They obviously have an idea on who these bike thieves are?
2. Are they related in someway? Is this why they are not really being active in the pursuit?
3. Or do they really not have the manpower to actually do the policing of the island properly?
I am 100% behind them and believe the bikes will all eventually turn up, but at what cost to the owners?
You could always ” Booby Trap” you bike.
There are 69 ways to do that…………. Mc Givor
Clamps are available at C.of H.
Oh yeah, they have a supply of them not being used.
BPS needs to clamp down on the mechanic shops, big and small with random checks on the sources of parts, most of these bikes are stripped for parts, and it definitely isn’t only lowlife scum that are buying these stolen parts. Not to say the shops themselves are buying these parts, but their customers may be bringing these parts in to have put on their bikes.
gps your motorbike…if it dissapears…go huntin wabbit!
I want to install an ejection seat on my bike so If it is stolen I can remotely set off the seat. All I’ll have to do is to look up to see who is flying through the air.
Having had several bikes stolen over the years from Hamilton, in daylight, and home garage, my conclusion was; it suits the insurance companies and how inept are the Police.
Given today’s technology they continue to prove my view. It is a very easy problem to resolve with only a modicum of intelligence. Sadly!!
If the police spent 1/10 of the time they spent hiding in the trees catching speeders to hide in the trees to catch bike theives they would probably catch the main culprits and make a serious dent!
Catch them? Like they’re going to pull over when they see the flashing police light? Ask anyone who has ever worked for the Police what their experience has been in trying to stop a motorcycle rider who doesn’t want to stop.
Stealing peoples property is low and these thieves have no shame. Our family have had two bikes stolen. I think insurance companies need to partner up with GPS tracking companies as I think this could be a solution and make it affordable to use GPS, as the insurance companies are just shelling out lots of cash to the victims of theft.