Residents and visitors are being urged to help police tackle the soaring rate of bike thefts on the Island.

Crime rates are at their lowest since records began but motorcycle robberies keep rising, Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva said last week.

He told how a “significant increase in motor vehicle theft spoiled the overall downward trend” in crime.

Mr DeSilva praised the public for their help in making Bermuda safer overall — and Bermuda Police Service yesterday urged people to assist in the push to deter bike thieves.

“The public can assist by exercising basic crime-prevention techniques regarding motorcycles,” a spokesman said. “This includes using a secondary lock, parking in a well-lit area and ensuring that ignition keys are removed — not left in the ignition or in the basket on the rear.”

Most motorcycles are stolen from the City of Hamilton, the spokesman said, with 40.2 percent of these thefts occurring between 6pm and 2am.

“There is no specific area within the City of Hamilton where a motorcycle is more susceptible to being stolen that any other, although many repeat offences occur in the City Hall and Par-la-Ville car parks,” the spokesman said.

“There is no specific pattern — motorcycles are simply removed from all over Hamilton.”

The models most frequently taken include the Honda Scoopy, PGO Ligero, Symax HD, Yamaha Nouvo, Asprilla Sportcity, Suzuki Hayate and SMC Navigator.

Fewer than half of bikes that are reported stolen are recovered, with most taken for parts, joyriding and to commit other criminal offences, according to the police.

“Perpetrators are caught on stolen motorcycles and regularly appear before the courts,” the spokesman added.

For more crime prevention advice, visit www.bermudapolice.bm or call 295-0011.