Your precious motorcycle was a little safer last year with motorcycle theft down 532 or -6% to 8208. It’s still way too high and more than double the rate of car thefts as a proportion of owners.
Owners in Western Australia should be particularly concerned as thefts were up 237 or 9.6% to 2696, which was the biggest total and represents almost one in three thefts nationally. Apart from Tasmania (up 25 to 107), it was the only state to experience an increase, according to the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.
Council executive director Ray Carroll says WA has always had a particular problem with motorcycle theft, particularly off-roaders, 250cc or less. He says the high growth in scooter sales in the state has also led to an increase in scooter theft. Last year the council worked with WA police on a motor scooter alarm project which involves supplying alarms to scooter owners in high-risk suburbs.
The biggest decrease of any state was in Queensland where thefts dropped 325 or 28.3% to 1472, while the greatest percentage drop was in South Australia, down a massive 55% or 181 to 510.
Across the nation, short-term theft for joyrides was down 327 to 3604, while theft for profit such as rebirthing or black market parts is still the highest proportion of all motorcycle theft at 4604, which was down 205.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BIKE
- Use the steering lock if your bike has one and/or get some sort of brake lock. Bikes can still be picked up, so consider chaining it to an immovable object.
- Pull out a spark plug or fuse, or have an immobiliser fitted.
- Don’t park your bike in railway or shopping centre carparks as these are notorious for theft.
- Park in a locked carpark. If you have to park in the open, leave it where you can see your bike or in view of a security camera.
- Put a cover over your bike. It might slow down thieves and prevent theft of accessories.
- If parking in a garage, block the bike with a car and ensure the garage is locked.
- 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.