Australia Stopped Counting Stolen Motorcycles.
But the thieves didn’t stop stealing them.
Not a single Australian government agency or private insurer is currently publishing motorcycle-specific statistics. Since the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council was wound up in 2021, motorcycles have been lumped into the general “motor vehicle theft” category.
The Absence Of Data Is A Massive Blind Spot.
While we know that 65,603 motor vehicles were stolen nationally in the 2025 annual count, nobody knows how many of them were bikes. Well, perhaps someone knows – but they don’t make the information public.
What Makes A Motorbike So Easy To Steal?
A thief has to drive your car away. They merely have to lift your bike. This is what makes bike theft prevention so challenging.
Two strong men can lift and load your bike into the back of a van in under 1 minute. Even if the siren is blaring and the steering lock is engaged.
This is why the strongest bike theft deterrents tether your bike to the planet – not to another object or to itself.
What’s The Best Way To Prevent Bike Theft?
- First, make it traceable. Photograph the VIN, which appears on the frame and engine. Apply microdots and stickers that let potential thieves know that microdots are in place.
- Second, make it a pain in the butt to move. You can layer several methods here – e.g., a disc lock to slow the thief down and an alarm to give them a shorter time horizon. A hidden GPS tracker is your last layer of protection if all else fails- but is usually useful only for recoveries.
- Third, attach the bike to the planet. Thread a hardened chain through the frame (not just the wheel – it can be removed) and attach to a ground anchor.
- Last, remember – out of sight, out of mind. Many would-be thieves are opportunistic. Don’t have a garage? Use a carport. Don’t have a carport? Leave it on the street – but cover it. Every layer adds friction.
