South Yorkshire Police arrest eight in theft crackdown
There may be fewer bikes on the road in the winter, but thieves are still active and police in Doncaster are going after them.
Police in Doncaster have arrested eight people and seized 15 motorbikes as part of ongoing efforts to battle bike theft in the region.
The arrests come as part of South Yorkshire Police’s Operation Spoke Alpha, which the police force says was “launched to combat a rising trend in motorbike thefts and associated antisocial behaviour.”
Bike theft has been a source of intense frustration and anger among members of the motorcycle community. The UK is home to a global theft enterprise, which sees thousands of products stolen each year and shipped elsewhere. Many feel that police have made little to no effort in stopping the activity. So, it’s nice to see that South Yorkshire Police are doing their part.
"The crimes being committed span the whole of Doncaster, so it's been difficult to target the individuals involved from a policing perspective because the crimes are so widespread and sporadic,” said Doncaster Neighbourhood Inspector Adrian Luscombe. "By introducing Operation Spoke Alpha, we've managed to consolidate a small team of officers who are dedicated to targeting these individuals and using the full range of powers at their disposal to relentlessly pursue them.”
A stolen motorbike is not just a pain for the owner. Police say the bikes often end up being used to commit other crimes and perpetrate antisocial behaviour.
"By seizing these bikes, we can reunite them with their rightful owners and make our streets safer," said Luscombe.
Police say that the ages of those arrested range from 15-18 and that a “meticulous amount of intelligence gathering” has gone into identifying them, which, hopefully, will lead to successful convictions.
"Those we have arrested have had rude awakenings following an unexpected knock at the door, and if you too are involved in these types of crime, we want you to know that we are coming for you and to expect that knock on your door very soon,” said Luscombe.
As police continue their efforts, they are, of course, asking for the public to help in terms of providing information.
"If you have any information, then please share it with us," Luscombe said. "I hope this operation reassures you that we are committed to tackling this issue and that we do care, and we will continue to take whatever action we can on the information you provide us.”
You can report information and intelligence by calling 101 or making a report via the South Yorkshire Police website. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit their website.
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
