Mandurah detectives are targeting motorbike theft after more than 500 bikes were stolen since January and 179 remain unrecovered.
Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy said 534 motorbikes had been stolen in the Mandurah district between January 1 and October 3.
“We estimate 179 motorcycles stolen from residential locations have been unrecovered, which is fairly considerable,” he said.
“From commercial locations, about 22 and 17 from parks, road verges and reserves.”
He said 89 of these bikes were unregistered.
Detective Senior Sergeant Troy asked for motorbike owners to be patient during the operation.
“We will be targeting motorbike and vehicle theft in a bid to return stolen items to owners and reduce the numbers going unrecovered,” he said.
“Officers will conduct random stops and will check motorbikes for their chassis and engine numbers and check if they match up with the Department of Transport register.
“We want to ensure people in possession of motorbikes have them lawfully and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Troy said they wanted to get “thorough” information from victims following thefts.
We want to ensure people in possession of motorbikes have them lawfully and bring the perpetrators to justice.
- Detective Senior Sergeant Trevor Troy
“We want to capture more information like accurate time frames, CCTV footage, engine and chaci numbers,” he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Troy asked owners to exercise caution when securing their bike and to keep a copy of the identification details.
“We have had a large number of bikes reported stolen after they have been advertised for sale, on Gumtree or Facebook so we are asking owners not to give their address,” he said.
There are a lot of people who will steal motorbikes, especially unregistered ones because you can’t trace them.
- Fifth Element Kawasaki dealer principal Paul Mansfield
Fifth Element Kawasaki dealer principal Paul Mansfield had five bikes stolen in a ram raid on his business in September, which caused $13,000 damage to the property.
He said his business had been robbed “six or seven” times in the past.
Mr Mansfield said even though four of the five motorbikes were salvaged, the issue was “rife” and cost local business.
“There are a lot of people who will steal motorbikes, especially unregistered ones because you can’t trace them,” he said.
“There all kick-start, they don’t have a key and if the person is chased so they can just go off road.”
Mr Mansfield said he was happy there was a police focus on reducing this type of crime.
