Bike theft in Bermuda is at its lowest level in 20 years, the police commissioner said today.

Stephen Corbishley said that motorcycle theft “has seen a decrease in Bermuda and the last three years have seen the lowest reported number of thefts since 2000”.

He was speaking in response to a letter to the Editor published in The Royal Gazette last week.

The author highlighted a friend who had their new bike stolen just a few days after she bought it and said that the problem of bike theft was “totally out of hand”.

Mr Corbishley said that he understood public concerns and that motorcycle theft was a problem police took “very seriously”.

But he added: “In 2014 there were 830 recorded bike thefts but in 2019 it had fallen to 584.

“Additionally, we see an average of three persons a month arrested for this type of crime and nearly half of all motor vehicles stolen, including bikes, are recovered.

“Despite this fact the BPS recognise the significant impact to owners when their bikes are taken and we encourage all to invest in good locks and other crime prevention devices that will put off perpetrators.”

Mr Corbishley said with information about bike thefts should contact police or Crime Stoppers.