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Leap in motorcycle thefts for 2019

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Motorcycle theft rose more than any other category of vehicle last year with the biggest leap in South Australia and Tasmania and South East Queensland being a hotspot for thieves.

Figures released today by the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council show motorcycle theft across the nation up 10.5% to 9672.

That’s a 19.7% leap from the 8078 stolen five years ago.

Theft leap

The leap in motorcycle theft rates has prompted the Council to invite rider groups to partner with them to raise security awareness.

For more details of how your bike group can be involved click here.

Council Projects and Communications Coordinator Caitlin Hrambanis says there could be several reasons for the explosion on motorcycle theft rates:

  • The ease with which they are stolen;
  • A high demand for parts; and
  • The lack of security measures by riders.

Where they were stolen

The biggest increase over the past 12 months was in South Australia where thefts almost doubled from 555 to 822.

It was followed by Tasmania with a 40.4% increase to 198.

State/Terr 2018 2019 % change
Thefts Thefts
ACT 107
1.2
126
1.3
17.8% 
NSW 1,969
22.5
2,132
22.0
8.3% 
NT 82
0.9
97
1.0
18.3% 
QLD 1,690
19.3
2,017
20.9
19.3% 
SA 555
6.3
822
8.5
48.1% 
TAS 141
1.6
198
2.0
40.4% 
VIC 2,097
24.0
2,115
21.9
0.9% 
WA 2,108
24.1
2,165
22.4
2.7% 
AUS 8,749 100.0 9,672 100.0 10.5% 
But the real hotspots for motorcycle theft in Australia are in South East Queensland, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney.

This table of motorcycle thefts according to local government areas shows that four of the top 10 are in the South East Queensland area.

Cockburn and Stirling are in Perth, and Darebin and Melbourne are, of course in Melbourne.

State or Territory LGA 2018 2019 % change
QLD Brisbane (City) 432 526 21.8% 
QLD Gold Coast (City) 244 285 16.8% 
VIC Melbourne (City) 246 250 1.6% 
QLD Logan (City) 157 202 28.7% 
QLD Moreton Bay (Regional Council) 129 184 42.6% 
WA Cockburn (City) 76 171 125.0% 
NSW Sydney (City) 151 151 0.0% 
VIC Darebin (City) 106 141 33.0% 
WA Stirling (City) 147 140 -4.8% 
NSW Newcastle (City) 130 130 0.0% 

What is being stolen

There is little change in what is being stolen.

It’s mostly light bikes, dirt bikes and scooters which are the easiest to steal.

Also popular were the most prolific brands, such as the four Japanese brands.

Make 2015 2019
Honda 1,678 2,104
Yamaha 1,424 1,665
Kawasaki 804 925
Suzuki 821 868
KTM 523 634
SYM 171 350
Kymco 112 245
Harley-Davidson 213 215
Piaggio 159 202
Triumph 143 197
Hyosung 168 162
Husqvarna 99 158
Longjia 139 150
Ducati 85 107
Aprilia 69 99
BMW 56 90
TGB 108 87
Vespa 75 78
Bolwell 56 72
Adly 101 60
Cubic capacity 2015 % of thefts 2019 % of thefts
50cc or less 966
11.7
851
8.8
51 – 100cc 186
2.3
91
0.9
101 – 150cc 871
10.6
1,101
11.4
151 – 200cc 147
1.8
154
1.6
201 – 250cc 1,106
13.4
949
9.8
251 – 500cc 1,028
12.5
1,332
13.8
501 – 750cc 901
10.9
930
9.6
751 – 1000cc 446
5.4
431
4.5
1001cc or more 332
4.0
295
3.1
Electric 1
0.0
4
0.0
Unknown 2,270
27.5
3,534
36.5

How to secure your bike

Click here to find out what measures you can take to prevent your bike from ending up in these statistics.

  • When riding home, make sure you are not being followed.
  • Stay alert for suspicious vans or trucks driving around late at night. These are used to transport stolen motorcycles.
  • Lock the steering if it has a steering lock.
  • Put a cover over your bike. It might slow down thieves and prevent theft of accessories. But make sure it isn’t a flashy lone with the brand name of the bike on it. That only entices thieves.
  • When riding in a group, park your bikes together.
  • Consider marking your bike in a unique way that could aid in recovery and therefore dissuade thieves.
  • At hotels or public parking spaces, try to park in view of parking lot security cameras and lights.
  • Install a motorcycle alarm and/or a hidden kill switch.
  • Buy a GPS tracking system that can track and relay your bike’s speed, location and direction.