North London tops bike theft survey

Added on Monday, April 12th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments

London bikers have again suffered the UK’s highest theft rates according to new research published by Carole Nash.

The annual survey of bike claims, undertaken by bike insurance broker Carole Nash also found that for the first time bikers living in three areas outside the capital were among the theft top ten. Halifax, Manchester and Aberdeen took the dubious honours in the eighth annual Carole Nash Motorcycle Theft Survey. Dorset riders will also be shocked to hear that the Bournemouth postcode area recorded the highest jump up the national theft league, leaping 47 places from 95^th to 48^th.

There was better news in the West Midlands with bikers in Walsall securing the biggest league fall, a drop of 81 places from 9^th to joint 90^th.

Suffering the UK and England’s worst thefts are bikers in North London with a rate that is more than four times higher than the national average. Riders from Cardiff had the worst rate in Wales and were the only Welsh bikers to suffer a theft rate above the UK average whilst those in Aberdeen topped the Scottish table.

Scooters, mopeds and commuter bikes are by far the highest risk of all powered two wheelers but among machines viewed as more traditional motorcycles supersports bikes are most favoured by thieves. These models are nearly twice as likely to be stolen as those in the lowest risk category, tourers.

Commenting on the findings Carole Nash’s commercial director Simon Jackson said: “The fact that we have for the first time seen three areas outside the capital feature in the theft top ten demonstrates that no-one can afford to be complacent. Where there is opportunity there is thievery and bikers, the police and local authorities all have their role to play in reducing those opportunities. We need bikes to be made secure and parked securely.”

He advised that high value bikes such as supersports models were best protected through a combination of electronic security devices and tagging systems. “Because of the varying factors at work in determining which types of bikes are stolen and why, it is difficult to give blanket advice on the most effective security. However, sports and supersports bikes fitted with combinations of electronic and marking systems enjoyed much lower theft rates.”

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.