MOTORCYCLIST Kate Le Comte has had four motorbikes stolen in Wellington in almost as many years.
She believes she has been targeted by a recidivist offender on at least two occasions and is concerned that the police are not doing enough to prevent such thefts.
Her newest bike was stolen outside a friend’s house in Kelburn in broad daylight last week. It was parked there for no more than two hours, the steering was locked and the helmet and gloves were locked to the bike. The bike was not chained up.
Le Comte’s first bike was stolen just over four years ago on Maida Vale Rd at night.
“I found part of the bike cover down a bank nearby – but no bike,” she says.
Within a year her second – brand new – scooter was stolen from outside her flat in Bedford St, Northland.
“This house had no off street parking or any way of getting a bike off the road,” she says.
Before she had a chance to claim on insurance her third bike was stolen from the same address.
All but one of her bikes were insured.
Le Comte would like to see the police take a harder line on motorcyclists.
“Not once have I been pulled up on my motor scooter (in four years) and had the licence checked. [I want to know] how many are being ridden by the legal owner?”
NZ Police’s Inspector Peter Baird says the police do stop motorcylists for standard licence checks and breath checks, and says there will be more of a focus on curbing bike theft in the city.
“We know that Wellington has had an upsurge in small moped theft. We plan to deliver some education to riders about security for bikes. But Vehicle security ultimately falls on the bike owner.”
Scooterazzi owner Mark Hodson says all moped owners should have bike locks with a decent chain so they can secure their bike to a power pole.
Most thefts happen after dark, and if possible Hodson says bikers should lock their vehicles in a garage.