100 signatures reached
To: Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration; An Garda Síochána; Garda Commissioner; Dublin City Council; Dublin TDs.
Stop Motorcycle Theft and Violent Stolen-Bike Crime in Dublin
Stop Motorcycle Theft, Violent Robbery and Stolen-Bike Crime in Dublin
To the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, An Garda Síochána and Dublin public representatives:
Dublin has a serious public safety problem involving motorcycle theft, violent robbery and stolen-bike crime. This is no longer only about stolen property. Riders are being followed, surrounded, threatened, assaulted and, in some cases, pushed or dragged from their motorcycles while offenders take the bike.
Motorcycles are being stolen from homes, apartment blocks, workplaces, public streets and parking areas. Chains are being cut in public. Many incidents involve masked groups. Victims and witnesses have reported knives, hammers and other weapons. Stolen motorcycles, scramblers, mopeds and e-bikes are then used dangerously on roads, footpaths and around members of the public.
Motorcyclists, delivery riders and commuters are being placed in fear. Some riders are forced to escape when followed or surrounded, creating further danger for themselves, pedestrians, drivers and other road users. This is now a wider public safety issue for Dublin.
Figures raised in Dáil Éireann showed that 787 motorbikes were stolen in Dublin in 2023, around a 100% increase on the previous year. It was also stated that for every 100 motorbikes bought or registered in Dublin in 2023, 44 were stolen. These numbers show that the current response is not enough.
This petition is not a call for vigilantism, confrontation or people taking the law into their own hands. It is a lawful request for the State to act before more people are seriously injured or killed.
We ask the Minister, An Garda Síochána and Dublin public representatives to introduce a Dublin Motorcycle Theft and Stolen-Bike Crime Action Plan, including:
- A dedicated Garda operation targeting motorcycle theft, robbery, illegal scramblers and repeat offenders in Dublin.
- Garda-led “bait motorcycle” operations using legally deployed motorcycles fitted with GPS tracking, surveillance and evidence-gathering technology, with proper legal safeguards and public safety planning.
- A specialist Garda response where riders are followed, surrounded, attacked, pushed from motorcycles, threatened with weapons or forced to flee.
- Stronger consequences for aggravated motorcycle theft and robbery, especially where offences involve weapons, masks, violence, threats, group offending, burglary, dangerous driving or repeat offending.
- A review of how repeat young offenders are dealt with when motorcycle theft is linked to violence, weapons, intimidation, dangerous driving or organised group behaviour. Youth justice should be fair, but violent repeat offending must not be treated as harmless behaviour.
- Public quarterly reporting of motorcycle theft statistics in Dublin, including stolen bikes, recovered bikes, arrests, prosecutions, convictions and repeat-offender patterns where legally possible.
- Better use of CCTV, ANPR, drones, GPS tracking and intelligence-led policing to identify groups involved in stealing and using motorcycles.
- More secure motorcycle parking in Dublin, especially near workplaces, public transport hubs, apartment complexes, hospitals, colleges, shopping areas and the city centre.
- Stronger cooperation between Gardaí, insurers, motorcycle dealers, delivery companies, parking operators, local authorities and online marketplaces to prevent theft, recover stolen bikes and disrupt the resale of stolen motorcycles and parts.
- A public information campaign advising owners how to report thefts, preserve evidence, use GPS tracking, share CCTV safely and avoid direct confrontation with offenders.
Dublin should not become a city where masked groups can openly cut chains, steal motorcycles, attack riders, threaten people with weapons, post stolen vehicles online and endanger the public without meaningful consequences.
Motorcycles are not toys. For many people they are transport to work, a livelihood, a financial investment and their only affordable way to commute.
Please sign this petition and help us demand lawful enforcement, prevention, accountability and protection for riders and the public.
Why is this important?
Dublin has a serious public safety problem involving motorcycle theft, violent robbery and stolen-bike crime. This is no longer only about stolen property. Riders are being followed, surrounded, threatened, assaulted and, in some cases, pushed or dragged from their motorcycles while offenders take the bike.
Motorcycles are being stolen from homes, apartment blocks, workplaces, public streets and parking areas. Chains are being cut in public. Many incidents involve masked groups. Victims and witnesses have reported knives, hammers and other weapons. Stolen motorcycles, scramblers, mopeds and e-bikes are then used dangerously on roads, footpaths and around members of the public.
Motorcyclists, delivery riders and commuters are being placed in fear. Some riders are forced to escape when followed or surrounded, creating further danger for themselves, pedestrians, drivers and other road users. This is now a wider public safety issue for Dublin.
Figures raised in Dáil Éireann showed that 787 motorbikes were stolen in Dublin in 2023, around a 100% increase on the previous year. It was also stated that for every 100 motorbikes bought or registered in Dublin in 2023, 44 were stolen. These numbers show that the current response is not enough.
This petition is not a call for vigilantism, confrontation or people taking the law into their own hands. It is a lawful request for the State to act before more people are seriously injured or killed.
Dublin should not become a city where masked groups can openly cut chains, steal motorcycles, attack riders, threaten people with weapons, post stolen vehicles online and endanger the public without meaningful consequences.
Motorcycles are not toys. For many people they are transport to work, a livelihood, a financial investment and their only affordable way to commute.
We are asking for lawful enforcement, prevention, accountability and protection for riders and the public.
Motorcycles are being stolen from homes, apartment blocks, workplaces, public streets and parking areas. Chains are being cut in public. Many incidents involve masked groups. Victims and witnesses have reported knives, hammers and other weapons. Stolen motorcycles, scramblers, mopeds and e-bikes are then used dangerously on roads, footpaths and around members of the public.
Motorcyclists, delivery riders and commuters are being placed in fear. Some riders are forced to escape when followed or surrounded, creating further danger for themselves, pedestrians, drivers and other road users. This is now a wider public safety issue for Dublin.
Figures raised in Dáil Éireann showed that 787 motorbikes were stolen in Dublin in 2023, around a 100% increase on the previous year. It was also stated that for every 100 motorbikes bought or registered in Dublin in 2023, 44 were stolen. These numbers show that the current response is not enough.
This petition is not a call for vigilantism, confrontation or people taking the law into their own hands. It is a lawful request for the State to act before more people are seriously injured or killed.
Dublin should not become a city where masked groups can openly cut chains, steal motorcycles, attack riders, threaten people with weapons, post stolen vehicles online and endanger the public without meaningful consequences.
Motorcycles are not toys. For many people they are transport to work, a livelihood, a financial investment and their only affordable way to commute.
We are asking for lawful enforcement, prevention, accountability and protection for riders and the public.