A PETITION is calling on new London Mayor Sadiq Khan take immediate action to tackle an ‘epidemic’ of motorcycle theft in the capital.
The petition sites Home Office figures showing a 44% rise in motorcycle theft in London between 2012 and 2014.
It links to a Visordown article about thieves who filmed themselves stealing a Ducati Panigale as an example of how brazen perpetrators have become.
The petition calls for motorcycle theft to be made a priority for the Met Police and for the force to receive more funding to investigate the crime. It also calls for more ground anchors in motorcycle parking bays and for tougher sentencing of offenders.
The petition is addressed to the Met Police and Home Secretary Theresa May as well as the London Mayor.
It says: ‘In 2016 the Home Office released a report stating that from 2012 to 2014 motorcycle theft in London increased by 44%. This epidemic of theft seems to have no signs of abating as thieves become more brazen, acting with impunity and no fear of being caught to the extent that they are happy to capture their crimes on film: http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-news--general-news/bike-theft-caught-on-film---by-bike-thieves/31160.html.
‘This has a huge impact on motorcyclists by drastically increasing insurance premiums; and on Londoners in general through increased crime, criminals posing a danger to the public through reckless riding on pavements and through red lights. Stolen motorcycles and other powered two wheelers are also used as a mode of committing other crimes against Londoners.
‘This can be combated by making motorcycle theft a priority for the Met Police and giving them the proper resources to investigate motorcycle crime and offenders.
‘Giving the police the authority to chase criminals on stolen bikes without fear of the risk to the criminal.
‘Installing sufficient anchor points for motorcycles to be securely locked to in town.
‘On a national level, the sentencing guidelines for motorcycle theft need to be changed and minimum sentences increased to act as an effective deterrent.’
