Extent of Motorcycle Theft

• NCJ Number: 201083
• Author(s): Greg Braun
• Date Published: 2003
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Home Office Findings, 193

Annotation

This report summarizes an analysis of the incidents of an estimated 28,957 stolen motorcycles (includes scooters, mopeds, and motorbikes) in England, Scotland, and Wales in 2000 in which the records of stolen motorcycles on the Police National Computer (PNC) could be matched (using the vehicle registration mark) to records of licensed motorcycles administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

Abstract

In 2000 an estimated 25 motorcycles were stolen for every 1,000 registered with the DVLA. Mopeds and scooters were at much greater risk of being stolen than motorbikes; they constituted just 26 percent of the total of motorcycles registered, but accounted for 56 percent of all thefts. The theft rate for mopeds and scooters was 53 per 1,000 registered compared with 15 per 1,000 motorbikes registered. The age of motorcycles was also a factor; 1-year-old motorcycles were at greatest risk of being stolen, with a theft rate of 39 per 1,000 registered. The recovery rate for motorcycles was 32 percent in 2000; this was lower than for stolen cars, whose recovery rate was 65 percent. Mopeds and scooters had a slightly higher recovery rate of 37 percent, compared with 26 percent for motorbikes. The types of motorbikes most at risk were those with lower engine capacities, typically ranging between 101-125cc. This report recommends ways in which manufacturers could improve vehicle security on motorcycles. It also recommends that manufacturers work with the DVLA to review and increase the accuracy of the way in which model and body codes of motorcycles are defined and recorded. It further recommends that the police improve the recording of motorcycle thefts. Motorcyclists are advised to use vehicle security measures, use security markings on as many motorcycle parts as possible, take extra precautions if one's motorcycle is in a high-risk group for theft, and use parking spaces that have stands or security loops to which to secure motorcycles. 3 tables, 2 figures, and 6 references