Thieves get to keep stolen motorcycles

Stolen motorcycles recovered in raids are being given back to thieves because of a lack of identifying marks, police have said.

With no way to trace rightful owners, officers have no choice but to let thieves keep stripped-down machines, according to the Metropolitan Police’s stolen vehicle squad.

The squad’s DC Ian Elliott said: “We come into contact with a lot of clearly questionable parts that unfortunately have to be restored to the thieves if we can’t prove they’re stolen.”

He appealed to riders to put extra identifying marks on their bikes. “We urge owners to mark their motorcycles and scooters in as many places as possible,” he said.

Products like Alpha Dot and Datatag can be used to put unique and discreet identifying marks on bike parts.

Bike theft expert and ex-theft-squad cop Ken German said: “The one main factor preventing a marked reduction in motorcycle theft is the lack of identification.

“Once frame and engine numbers have been removed from recovered machines, quite often they are perceived by police as ownerless.”