Crackdown on motorcycle thefts in Canterbury

Kent Police have launched new initiatives in a bid to combat a rising trend of motorcycle thefts.

Over 400 free tracking devices were given out to bikers in Canterbury where there has been an increase in stealing.

Sergeant Norbury explained: “What we’ve got is Bluetooth tracking devices that use Apple’s Find My network and Android’s one which will hopefully deter criminals from doing it.

“But should the bikes get stolen, it gives us another opportunity, another option, to try and track them down and trace them and return them to the owners and hopefully catch the people who have stolen them.

“It’s something we want to combat, something that’s been raised through our surveys, to say there’s an issue.”

He explained that the police will help any motorcyclist who installs their own tracking devices, not just the ones that they have given out.

The event, recently held in Canterbury Coach Park, was attended by hundreds of motorcyclists.

Steve Mallet, leader of the South East Motorcycle Action Group, said there isn’t one motorcyclist he knew who wasn’t aware of the thefts.

“Kent is a very high area for theft. A lot of that is because of the proximity to the Channel ports, where a lot of parts get shipped abroad, re-registered in exotic countries and we never see it again.

“It falls into two categories. You have the twist and go scooters, a lot of them are stolen because of the fast-food delivery industry.

“And the more expensive bikes, they’re either being broken up for spare parts or taken as a complete bike abroad and re-registered.”

There have been similar events held across Medway, where ground anchors and garage alarms were given out.

“Let’s hope the police get in there, get behind these locked doors, and recover the bikes and hopefully give the perpetrators a good, stiff sentence as well,” the 74-year-old added.

Motorcyclist Anthony Lee attended the event so a tracking device could be installed on the motorbike he has owned for 24 years.

The 62-year-old admitted he was worried about his motorcycle being stolen.

“If you go to a motorcycle meeting like this, you can leave anything like your bike. No one touches it. But if you go to Herne Bay seafront, Margate seafront, there’s always a possibility of it being stolen.

“This won’t help my bike not be stolen, but it’ll be able to track it where it is being stolen, and hopefully lead to an arrest later on, if it’s a criminalised gang.

“I think it’s an absolutely great initiative, anything that’s for free.”

The next event will take place in Herne Bay on Friday May 9, where more trackers and advice will be given out to motorcyclists.