Bikes: a soft target Motorcycles are a soft target for thieves. They are vulnerable machines with no outer shell to protect them. Unlike cars they are light and easy to steal.
"It's unfortunate but bikes when stolen can be well hidden, they can be hidden in an apartment or even under the stairs," according to Superintendent Finbar Garland of the Stolen Car Squad.
"The biggest problem lately is theft of mopeds and scooters. Because of the huge increase in scooters being purchased nowadays, more are stolen because there are more of them around, they're also light and easy to lift. They're usually taken for joyriding," adds Supt Garland.
Unfortunately, not all bikers take out fully comprehensive insurance so they risk losing their precious wheels without hope of recovery if they get stolen. "Because motorbike insurance is so high in this country most bike owners can only afford third-party insurance, this means that if their bike is stolen they can't claim it back on the insurance," says Linda Ó Loideoin of the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG).
According to Ciaran Mahon of Hibernian Insurance: "motorbike theft is only one factor in determining the premium for motorbike insurance. The low level of driver training and the high cost of pillion passenger claims are the most significant factors."
Thieves steal bikes for different reasons. Supt Garland says: "They take the big expensive bikes, disguise them and re-sell them. They are also taken to be used as getaway vehicles. Last year in one Garda operation gardaí recovered over 100 bikes that were stolen from Britain and shipped to Ireland to be cut up for parts."
Motorcycle racing events are easy pickings for thieves. "Eleven motorcycles were stolen at last year's Skerries 100 road races. Out of the 11 bikes stolen, five were recovered in an apartment in the city," claims to Supt. Garland.
Most bike owners are wise enough to realise the importance of using locks. "I use two chains and a disc lock to secure my bike. If someone sees one lock they might want to try and take the bike, if they see more than one they won't want to bother. I've had 10 bikes and none have been stolen on me," says one biker.
The thicker the lock, the more difficult it is for the thief to penetrate it. "The best lock we have in the shop would take 15 minutes to hack through with an angle grinder, it's an Abus lock and costs €250," says Tony Byrne of motorcycle shop Bikeworld. "Disc locks, with or without alarms are also good deterrents, they are clipped into the disc on the wheel of the bike," he continues.
Tony recommends that bikers "lock their bikes to something stationary so they can't be lifted. Ground anchor locks can be built into the ground in your driveway at home and are probably the most secure."