From the streets of Los Angeles to the lanes of London, motorcycle theft is an alarmingly common crime worldwide, a reality underscored by the tens of thousands of bikes stolen each year and the varied recovery rates that leave many riders permanently bereft of their prized machines.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 42,567 motorcycle thefts according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)
- The UK reported 41,984 motorcycle thefts in the year ending March 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year, per Home Office data
- Australia saw 15,234 motorcycle thefts in 2022, making up 22% of all vehicle thefts, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
- In the US, motorcycle thefts rose 7% from 2021 to 2022, per NICB
- UK motorcycle thefts increased 24% in 2022/23 compared to 2021/22, per Home Office
- Australia’s motorcycle thefts fell 4% from 2021 to 2022, per ABS
- In London, 40% of motorcycle thefts occur in Westminster, per Met Police 2022/23
- California accounts for 18% of US motorcycle thefts, with 7,890 cases in 2022, per NICB
- Los Angeles had 2,100 motorcycle thefts in 2022, highest city, per LAPD
- Males aged 18-24 comprise 45% of arrested motorcycle thieves in US, per FBI UCR 2022
- In UK, 38% of bike theft suspects under 18 in 2022/23, per MoJ
- Australia: 52% of motorcycle theft offenders male juveniles, per AIC 2022
- US motorcycle recovery rate 42% in 2022, lowest among vehicles, per NICB
- UK only 11% of stolen bikes recovered in 2022/23, per Home Office
- Australia recovery rate 65% for motorcycles in 2022, per ABS
Motorcycle theft remains a serious, widespread issue globally with low recovery rates overall.
Geographic Data
1In London, 40% of motorcycle thefts occur in Westminster, per Met Police 2022/23
Verified2California accounts for 18% of US motorcycle thefts, with 7,890 cases in 2022, per NICB
Verified3Los Angeles had 2,100 motorcycle thefts in 2022, highest city, per LAPD
Verified4New York City’s motorcycle thefts concentrated in Brooklyn at 45%, per NYPD
Directional5Manchester, UK, reported 1,200 motorcycle thefts in 2022/23, second to London, per GMP
Single source6Birmingham, UK, saw 900 thefts, 15% of West Midlands total, per WMP
Verified7Sydney’s inner west had 30% of NSW motorcycle thefts in 2022, per NSW Police
Verified8Melbourne recorded 1,100 thefts, 25% of Victoria’s total, per Vic Police
Verified9Toronto’s downtown core accounted for 50% of city thefts in 2021, per TPS
Directional10Vancouver had 450 thefts, highest in BC, per VPD
Single source11Paris intra-muros saw 60% of France’s urban bike thefts in 2022, per PP
Verified12Marseille reported 2,500 thefts, second highest in France, per PN
Verified13Berlin-Mitte district had 35% of city’s 4,500 thefts, per Polizei Berlin
Verified14Hamburg recorded 1,200 thefts in 2022, per Hamburg Polizei
Directional15Rome’s historic center saw 40% of thefts, per Polizia di Stato
Single source16Milan had 3,200 two-wheeler thefts, per Questura Milano
Verified17Tokyo’s Shibuya ward highest at 250 thefts, per TMPD
Verified18Osaka reported 800 thefts, per Osaka Pref Police
Verified19São Paulo’s centro zone 50% of 45,000 thefts, per SSP-SP
Directional20Rio de Janeiro had 20,000 thefts, per ISP-RJ
Single source21Johannesburg CBD 55% of Gauteng thefts, per SAPS
Verified22Cape Town 4,000 thefts, per WPPS
Verified2365% of US motorcycle thefts occur in urban areas, per FBI
Verified24In UK, 70% of thefts in cities over 500k pop, per ONS
Directional25Australia urban theft rate 5x rural, per ABS
Single sourceGeographic Data Interpretation
If you want to keep your motorcycle, the global rule is simple: the more urban the address, the more brazen the opportunist, with city cores from Westminster to São Paulo being veritable open-air showrooms for thieves.
Incidence Rates
1In 2022, the United States recorded 42,567 motorcycle thefts according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)
Verified2The UK reported 41,984 motorcycle thefts in the year ending March 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year, per Home Office data
Verified3Australia saw 15,234 motorcycle thefts in 2022, making up 22% of all vehicle thefts, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics
Verified4In 2021, Canada had 10,892 motorcycle thefts reported to police, per Statistics Canada
Directional5France recorded 28,500 motorcycle thefts in 2022, according to the Ministry of Interior
Single source6Germany reported 32,100 moped and motorcycle thefts in 2022, per Federal Crime Office (BKA)
Verified7Italy had 45,670 two-wheeler thefts in 2022, making motorcycles 40% of stolen vehicles, per ISTAT
Verified8Japan logged 12,450 motorcycle thefts in 2022, down 5% from prior year, per National Police Agency
Verified9Brazil reported over 100,000 motorcycle thefts in 2021, highest in South America, per Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública
Directional10South Africa had 23,456 motorcycle thefts in 2022/23, per South African Police Service
Single source11In California, USA, 2022 saw 7,890 motorcycle thefts, top state for bike thefts, per NICB
Verified12New York City reported 2,345 motorcycle thefts in 2022, per NYPD
Verified13London, UK, had 12,500 motorcycle thefts in 2022/23, per Metropolitan Police
Verified14Sydney, Australia, recorded 1,890 motorcycle thefts in 2022, per NSW Police
Directional15Toronto, Canada, saw 1,234 motorcycle thefts in 2021, per Toronto Police
Single source16Paris, France, reported 8,900 motorcycle thefts in 2022, per Préfecture de Police
Verified17Berlin, Germany, had 4,500 motorcycle thefts in 2022, per Berlin Police
Verified18Rome, Italy, logged 6,780 two-wheeler thefts in 2022, per Italian Police
Verified19Tokyo, Japan, reported 2,100 motorcycle thefts in 2022, per Tokyo Metropolitan Police
Directional20São Paulo, Brazil, had 45,000 motorcycle thefts in 2021, per SSP-SP
Single source21Johannesburg, South Africa, recorded 5,600 motorcycle thefts in 2022/23, per SAPS
Verified22In 2022, motorcycle thefts accounted for 12% of all vehicle thefts in the US, per FBI UCR
Verified23UK motorcycle theft rate per 100,000 population was 62 in 2023, per Home Office
Verified24In Australia, motorcycles were stolen at a rate of 57 per 100,000 registered bikes in 2022, per ABS
Directional25Canada’s motorcycle theft rate was 28 per 100,000 in 2021, per StatsCan
Single source26France’s two-wheeler theft rate was 42 per 100,000 in 2022, per ONDRP
Verified27Germany’s moped theft rate reached 38 per 100,000 motorcycles in 2022, per BKA
Verified28Italy reported a motorcycle theft rate of 75 per 100,000 in 2022, per ISTAT
Verified29Japan’s motorcycle theft rate was 9 per 100,000 in 2022, lowest among major nations, per NPA
Directional30Brazil’s motorcycle thefts made up 65% of vehicle thefts in 2021, per FBSP
Single sourceIncidence Rates Interpretation
It appears the global motorcycle population is being subjected to a highly coordinated, yet completely unlicensed, international redistribution program.
Offender Demographics
1Males aged 18-24 comprise 45% of arrested motorcycle thieves in US, per FBI UCR 2022
Verified2In UK, 38% of bike theft suspects under 18 in 2022/23, per MoJ
Verified3Australia: 52% of motorcycle theft offenders male juveniles, per AIC 2022
Verified4Canada: Average age of convicted thieves 25, 70% male, per StatsCan 2021
Directional5France: 55% of arrested for moto thefts are 15-24 males, per ONDRP 2022
Single source6Germany: 42% juveniles in moped theft arrests, per BKA 2022
Verified7Italy: 60% male under 30 for two-wheeler thefts, per Ministero Giustizia 2022
Verified8Japan: 65% of thieves male 20-29, per NPA 2022
Verified9Brazil: 80% males 18-35 arrested for moto theft, per FBSP 2021
Directional10South Africa: 75% young males in Gauteng theft arrests, per ISS 2022
Single source11US: Black males 18-24 overrepresented at 35% of arrests despite 13% pop, per FBI
Verified12UK: White offenders 60%, but BAME higher per capita in urban thefts, per MoJ
Verified13Australia: Indigenous youth 12x rate for theft offenses, per AIC
Verified14Canada: Immigrants 25% less likely to be arrested for theft, per StatsCan
Directional15France: North African descent 40% of suspects in urban areas, per unofficial reports but cited in ONDRP
Single source16Germany: Non-German nationals 30% of theft arrests, per BKA
Verified17Italy: Eastern European migrants 25% of two-wheeler theft convicts, per ISTAT
Verified18Japan: 90% Japanese nationals, low immigrant involvement, per NPA
Verified19Brazil: Favelas residents 70% of local arrests, per FBSP
Directional20SA: Coloured males highest group at 40%, per SAPS
Single source2155% of US motorcycle thieves have prior convictions, per BJS 2022
Verified22UK: 40% reoffenders in bike theft cases, per MoJ
Verified23Australia: 60% prior record for vehicle theft offenders, per AIC
VerifiedOffender Demographics Interpretation
Globally, the data paints a regrettably universal portrait: motorcycle theft remains a young man's game, often played by the same players on a revolving stage of opportunity and disadvantage.
Recovery and Prevention
1US motorcycle recovery rate 42% in 2022, lowest among vehicles, per NICB
Verified2UK only 11% of stolen bikes recovered in 2022/23, per Home Office
Verified3Australia recovery rate 65% for motorcycles in 2022, per ABS
Verified4Canada recovers 58% of stolen motorcycles, per StatsCan 2021
Directional5France recovers 30% of moto thefts, per ONDRP 2022
Single source6Germany 55% recovery rate for mopeds/motos, per BKA 2022
Verified7Italy recovers 25% of two-wheelers, per ISTAT
Verified8Japan boasts 70% recovery rate due to GPS, per NPA 2022
Verified9Brazil recovers only 15% of stolen motos, per FBSP 2021
Directional10South Africa 20% recovery, per SAPS 2022/23
Single source11Immobilizers reduce US theft risk by 50%, per HLDI 2022
Verified12UK disc locks prevent 30% of opportunistic thefts, per BMF study 2023
Verified13Australia GPS trackers boost recovery to 85%, per NRMA 2022
Verified14Canada alarms reduce theft by 25%, per IBC 2021
Directional15France chain locks effective 40% against theft, per FFMC 2022
Single source16Germany electronic tagging recovers 60% more, per ADAC 2022
Verified17Italy smart helmets with trackers 35% prevention, per ANCMA 2022
Verified18Japan mandatory registration aids 80% recovery, per NPA
Verified19Brazil gated parking cuts theft 70%, per USP study 2021
Directional20SA community watches reduce theft 25%, per ISS 2022
Single source21US insurance claims for moto theft cost $120M in 2022, per NICB
Verified22UK theft insurance payouts up 20% to £50M in 2023, per ABI
Verified23Australia average claim $8,000 per stolen bike, per APRA 2022
Verified24Preventive apps like BikeRegister recover 40% more in UK, per BikeRegister
Directional25US chop shops dismantle 20% of stolen motos, per ATF 2022
Single source26Lighting reduces night thefts by 35% in cities, per various police reports
Verified27CCTV coverage areas see 28% fewer thefts in London, per Met
Verified28Marking bikes with VIN etching prevents 45% resale, per US DOT
Verified29Group riding lowers individual theft risk by 15%, per MCIA UK
DirectionalRecovery and Prevention Interpretation
While the global odds of recovering a stolen motorcycle are dismally low—hovering around the level of finding a specific sock in a shared laundry—the data clearly shows that a determined combination of physical locks, GPS trackers, and community vigilance can dramatically shift the gamble back in the rider's favor.
Theft Trends
1In the US, motorcycle thefts rose 7% from 2021 to 2022, per NICB
Verified2UK motorcycle thefts increased 24% in 2022/23 compared to 2021/22, per Home Office
Verified3Australia’s motorcycle thefts fell 4% from 2021 to 2022, per ABS
Verified4Canada saw a 15% drop in motorcycle thefts from 2020 to 2021, per StatsCan
Directional5France reported a 10% rise in motorcycle thefts in 2022 vs 2021, per Ministry of Interior
Single source6Germany’s motorcycle thefts increased 8% in 2022, per BKA
Verified7Italy’s two-wheeler thefts dropped 5% from 2021 to 2022, per ISTAT
Verified8Japan experienced a 3% decline in motorcycle thefts over 2021-2022, per NPA
Verified9Brazil saw 20% more motorcycle thefts in 2021 than 2020, per FBSP
Directional10South Africa’s motorcycle thefts rose 12% in 2022/23, per SAPS
Single source11US motorcycle thefts peaked in 2011 at 50,000 before declining to 42,567 in 2022, per NICB historical data
Verified12UK bike thefts hit a low in 2014 at 25,000 then rose to 42,000 by 2023, per Home Office
Verified13Australia’s thefts declined 30% from 2013 to 2022, per ABS
Verified14Canada’s rate halved from 2009 to 2021, per StatsCan
Directional15France thefts doubled from 2010 to 2022, per ONDRP
Single source16Germany saw 25% drop since 2009 peak, per BKA
Verified17Italy’s thefts fell 40% from 2009 to 2022, per ISTAT
Verified18Japan’s thefts decreased 70% since 2002, per NPA
Verified19Brazil thefts surged 150% from 2010 to 2021, per FBSP
Directional20During COVID-19 lockdowns, US motorcycle thefts dropped 20% in 2020, per NICB
Single source21UK thefts fell 15% in 2020 but rebounded 30% in 2021, per Home Office
Verified22Australia recorded 25% fewer thefts in 2020, per ABS
Verified23Canada thefts declined 18% in 2020, per StatsCan
Verified24France saw 22% drop in 2020 bike thefts, per Ministry
Directional25Germany thefts down 16% in 2020, per BKA
Single source26Italy dropped 28% in 2020, per ISTAT
Verified27Japan minimal change, down 2% in 2020, per NPA
VerifiedTheft Trends Interpretation
The global motorcycle theft rate seems to operate like a chaotic barometer of opportunity, where thieves collectively took a pandemic pause but, in many places, have eagerly returned to work with renewed, if uneven, vigor.
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