Motorbike theft: lifted, loaded and gone
Most at risk: Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds kept on the street, in shared garages or outside work.
What motorbike lift-and-load theft is
Motorbikes are light enough for a small group to lift, so a wheel lock alone does not stop one being carried into a waiting van. Some are taken for resale or parts, and others are used in further crime.
Police advice for riders centres on anchoring the bike to something fixed, keeping chains off the floor and marking parts so that a stolen bike is harder to break up and sell.
How owners usually notice: A bike gone from a spot with no sign of the lock being cut, because it was never ridden away.
Stop motorbike lift-and-load theft with dual layer protection
Layer one: anchor it
A ground or wall anchor with a heavy chain kept off the floor turns a quick lift into slow, noisy work, which most opportunists will walk away from. Read more.
Layer two: a hidden tracker
A small tracker with movement alerts reports the moment the bike is lifted, and its location helps police find it before it is broken up for parts. Read more.
Talk to an installer about both layers.
Everyday habits that help
- Use a disc lock with an alarm as well as a chain.
- Cover the bike so it is less obvious from the street.
- Register and mark parts, and keep photos of distinctive features.
Latest UK reports
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