3 motorcycle thefts every hour! Which models are stolen the most?
Thefts are an integral part of all societies, and even in Italian cities, although generally safer compared to many other parts of the world, quite a few are recorded. When it comes to means of transport, motorcycles and scooters are among the most stolen, and in recent years we have seen a slight increase in the numbers.
How, where, why, and how much?
Let's analyze all the data, compare it with the times we are living in and the deep differences we can find throughout the country, to have a clearer idea of the phenomenon and understand how we can protect our two-wheeled loved ones.
Why do motorcycle thefts happen?
The question might seem trivial, but in reality, the reasons that lead certain criminals to take scooters or motorcycles belonging to others are varied and also change depending on the Italian regions. Most of the crimes committed fall into 3 specific categories:
- Theft for resale abroad
- Theft for disassembly and sale of spare parts
- Theft for use in organized crime activities
Of course, there is also a small percentage that falls outside these reasons and includes all other possible motives. In this last category, non-professional thieves operate who basically steal for personal reasons and not to run an illegal activity.
Why motorcycles specifically and not other vehicles? Obviously, this is a business that can be quite profitable in the case of resale and spare parts, but when used by organized crime, these vehicles are ideal for committing certain types of crimes or for quickly transporting illegal substances through city streets. Additionally, motorcycles and scooters are relatively easy to steal, they are light and can be easily moved and hidden inside vans or other vehicles.
What to do if my motorcycle is stolen?
The process is simple: if someone takes an object that belongs to us without our consent, it is considered theft and requires a personal report to a Police officer at a station or a Questura, Carabinieri, or Local Police; it does not matter which one we choose.
Our responsibility ends with the signing of the report, and from that moment the ball is in the hands of the Law Enforcement, who initiate a search procedure for the vehicle and try to recover it and return it to the rightful owner.
Things do not always go well, and often vehicles simply disappear into thin air, but there are also many cases of recovery and return of the vehicle to the rightful owner.
What are the most stolen motorcycle models in Italy
The latest ranking of the most stolen two-wheelers refers to 2021 (2022 ministerial data) and shows a total number of registered thefts of 26,707 vehicles.
There are 3 motorcycle thefts every hour, and although these numbers have been steadily declining for the past 10 years, the last year saw thefts rise again by up to 6% compared to 2020, and we do not yet know the corresponding data for 2022.
The period of severe crisis in employment, economic, and social fabric could be an explanation for this sudden increase.
In Italy, the ranking of the most stolen two-wheelers has seen scooters at the top for many years. Why them? They have always been the preferred means for city travel and, in some cases, are real best sellers that are also at the center of a huge illegal trade activity involving both complete vehicles and spare parts.
The reason is mainly due to the type of vehicle, which is more difficult to steal and exploit both in terms of dismantling for spare parts sales and for use in criminal activities. Thefts of medium and large displacement motorcycles are almost exclusively limited to export for illegal sale in other European markets.
On the contrary, scooters are by nature lighter, more compact, and practical vehicles, which, despite having a much lower value than motorcycles, are far easier to steal and are available in greater quantities. The "business" of stolen scooters in cities is thriving also because it is the most common means of transport after the car, giving criminals the opportunity to build various activities much more profitable than simple theft for resale.
The SH alone accounts for 20% of total thefts in Italy; with such success, it is logically also the most stolen. In sales rankings, it has been the undisputed king for many years and finds its greatest spread in large cities. Rome, Naples, Palermo, and Milan are undoubtedly the urban centers where SH and similar models are most common and, logically, always under the watchful eye of thieves.
Cities and regions with the most motorcycle thefts
As mentioned earlier, Italy is such a unique and varied country that it shows great differences between North and South, even regarding car and motorcycle thefts. Obviously, the most populous regions have a greater chance of occupying the top of the ranking, but the data is not so straightforward, as we can see from the following list of regions with the most thefts:
One of the most populous regions, Veneto, is outside the Top 5, and other southern regions adjacent to Campania do not have such a high number of thefts.
In this case, we need to identify the areas with the highest activity of motorcycle thieves in the main Italian cities, which is why it is easy to understand how Naples, Rome, Palermo, Milan, and Florence are the epicenter of the phenomenon. Not by chance, these are also the Italian cities with the highest presence of scooters and motorcycles and the places where the Honda SH, the thieves' favorite, is most widespread.
How many stolen motorcycles are found and returned?
Unfortunately, just over one-third of two-wheeled vehicles are recovered by law enforcement. According to the 2022 ministry data, referring to all of 2021, the scooters and motorcycles returned to their rightful owners were 9,678, just 36% of the total stolen vehicles.
It is also not specified under what conditions these vehicles were returned to their owners and how many of them were still operational. A small consolation: in 2022, law enforcement returned 6% more motorcycles and scooters to their owners compared to the previous year.
How to protect yourself from motorcycle theft
Thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated in organizing motorcycle thefts across the country. The first useful and logical advice is undoubtedly to keep the vehicle in a closed place such as a garage, a condominium parking lot, or a private courtyard.
When you are out and about, however, you don't always have the option to park in secure places or where you can keep an eye on your vehicle. The simple steering lock provided as standard on all motorcycles certainly helps (and should always be used), but it is not a strong deterrent for criminals, as often a well-placed kick is enough to break the lock.
Equipping a motorcycle with a more effective anti-theft system is not only recommended but almost mandatory given the stakes involved.
What anti-theft systems exist and how do they work?
There are various ways to increase security when we are not riding, ranging from the classic alarm that sounds as soon as someone tries to move the motorcycle to different mechanical solutions such as chains, disc locks, brake locks (some of which also have audible alarms), or the EasyBlock system.
All these accessories protect against theft more or less effectively, but they are also well known to thieves who have been studying various methods for years to neutralize the lock and take away the poor motorcycle or scooter they have targeted.
EasyBlock the wheel lock anti-theft always with you
Often, people end up not using their mechanical lock out of pure laziness.
Maybe you are in a hurry or don’t want to get your hands dirty before an important meeting.
But it is precisely in these situations that thieves take advantage of our distraction to commit theft.
With its design intended to be simple and quick to use, EasyBlock aims to help motorcyclists protect their motorcycle in every situation.
EasyBlock works as a security system attached to the motorcycle, becoming part of the chassis itself and consequently offering several safety and usability advantages, as there is no need to remove and store the device in a compartment.
EasyBlock is available in two configurations, one dedicated to motorcycles that prevents the rear wheel from rotating by mechanically locking the sprocket, and one for scooters that locks the vehicle directly from the rear rim and can be activated even with just the foot; a safety spring prevents accidental engagement.
Made of CNC-machined aluminum and zinc-treated ferrous composite, they have a stainless steel pin that locks the movement.
