Vertical Markets

Moped-related crime campaign

by Mark Rowe

The Metropolitan Police says that it’s cracked down on powered two wheeler enabled crime with the help of the motorcycle industry association in a new awareness raising campaign aimed at bike owners. Last week Met officers will be attaching handlebar hangers at hotspots across the capital that provide advice on security and offered owners the chance to get a free Oxford Products disc lock and discounted Datatag product.

The hangers were to encourage riders to invest money in buying the best quality locks on the market, to gain the best security. Datatag were in attendance in the boroughs of Wandsworth and Camden to offer free fitting of their Scooter Security System, which owners can purchase at a discounted price. These two boroughs are among the ten in the Met most adversely affected by moped theft, the others being: Lambeth; Southwark; Hackney; Haringey; Newham; Islington; Westminster; and Kensington & Chelsea.

There were over 9900 moped, scooter and motorcycles reported stolen across London in the 12 months from April 2014 to March 2015. This equates to around 27 powered two wheelers (PTWs) being stolen in London every day. According to the Met, it’s difficult to determine the overall cost of PTW associated crime to victims, but if an average value of £3000 is applied to each moped, scooter or motorcycle stolen, then the total theft value during the last financial year is more than £28m.

Criminals steal PTWs to commit other crimes such as other vehicle theft, robbery, serious youth violence, and gang related incidents. Mobile phone crime and ‘snatch’ from thieves on bikes/mopeds are also a particular problem in certain areas. Monthly figures for moped/motorbike associated crimes committed this year are showing an increase, from 241 in January to 392 in June.

Intelligence suggests that organised crime groups are targeting new high powered motorbikes which can cost up to £15,000, and be broken down into parts and re-sold. These are usually stolen by being lifted into the back of vans, the cutting of chains, forcing and breaking of steering locks to wheel away, or sometimes even by using the propulsion of another scooter. Using the latter method, thieves do not need to start the engine and they will often go to dangerous lengths to keep the stolen vehicle moving, including driving through red lights, and using pedestrian and cycle paths. In the main, lower powered two wheelers are stolen by conventional hot-wiring techniques. The suspects will then drive the moped or scooter away and use it for a short period for joy-riding or as a getaway vehicle in commercial or personal robberies.

Hence, say police, it’s vital that owners need to take extra care to deter criminals, prevent easy removal and aid vehicle identification. The Met is making local dealers of PTW vehicles to aware of the issues, and urging them to ensure they always advise customers about locks and security in general.

Detective Superintendent Raffaele D’Orsi, lead for Operation Venice, the Met’s response to PTW and enabled crimes said: “The police, the motorcycle industry, and riders must do everything possible to prevent the activity of those involved in these offences. We are already working with industry to make these vehicles harder to steal, but I urge all riders to also improve the security of their vehicles. By everyone playing their part, we can thwart the thieves who steal these vehicles to perpetrate further crimes.”

And Steve Kenward, acting Chief Executive Officer of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), said: “The MCIA are very pleased to be able to support the Met Police in tackling scooter enabled crime. By taking simple steps to secure their machines, riders in the capital can do their bit as well as help the wider campaign of raising awareness.”

Under Operation Venice during the last few months, officers have been conducting targeted operations, mass checks on parked up mopeds, raids on individuals suspected of stealing PTW vehicles or using them to commit crimes, high visibility patrols in key areas, ANPR deployments and provision of free locks to owners at motorcycle parking bays.

A new team dedicated to tackling this issue, Operation Attrition, was launched in May. Using officers from Camden, Islington and City of London Police (CoLP). this north London based unit is an intelligence-led initiative using a range of policing tactics to tackle moped-related crime. With a focus on safety, deterrence and intervention, officers are adopting both overt and covert methods to identify those people responsible, and, through a mix of judicial processes and education, they hope to reduce repeat offending whilst encouraging diversion through youth engagement. The squad hopes to reach the young men who make up the majority of those involved and are putting themselves – and the wider public – at risk by riding PTWs in a dangerous and reckless fashion.

To date, the unit has conducted over 1,600 stops, including 467 searches, across north and east London and the CoLP area, as well as raids on premises. Officers have conducted 28 weapons sweeps, which have resulted in knives and a meat cleaver being found, as well as many raids on premises.

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