Inspector Robert Cardwell, Officer Responsible for the Roads Policing Unit - The frequency of reports of stolen vehicles being received by the Bermuda Police Service is on the increase. The offence committed is Taken Without the Owner’s Consent or T.W.O.C.

Stolen vehicle trends when compared annually show that there is a higher rate of vehicle theft over the summer months. There have been 295 such theft reports for 2015 of which only 30 of the vehicles have been recovered. The majority of vehicle thefts are motorcycles.

The motorcycle type currently subject of frequent theft reports continues to be the Yamaha Nouvo and Honda Scoopy. Several motorcars have also been reported stolen. Vehicles are more likely to be taken between the hours of 5pm and 1am.

Motorcycles are most frequently taken from car parks around the City of Hamilton but also from residential neighborhoods island wide.

Typically motorcycles are stolen for joy riding or for stripping of their parts.

Prevention and deterrence is the best advice for all motor vehicle owners to adhere in order to not become a victim of vehicular theft.

That includes always removing keys from the ignition of your vehicle even if only intending to be away from your vehicle for a short time, and for motorcycle owners to always use a secondary lock that is in addition to the handlebar lock.

Where possible the secondary lock should be used to attach the motorcycle to a fixed object.