KOZHIKODE: On an average, cops say, 34 bikes get stolen in the city alone a month, according to police. Bike-lifters, mostly youngsters, have been thriving in the city and rural regions for the last many years giving a headache for them. Most of them prefer high-end and sporty motorbikes. Crowded spots like bus stands, railway stations, beach sides, and commercial complexes are their favourite spots. On an average two bike thefts were reported from 17 police stations every day.
For the habitual offenders, it is easy to unlock the bike and vanish in a split second. "Most of the thefts take place in public spots when the owners are away," an officer, insisting anonymity, said. "Three-fourths of the bikes would be found abandoned later." Interestingly, many of them use the number of their own bike for the stolen bike and change its appearance a bit to deceive the police as well as its owner.
"In few cases, robbers found using them for burglary, after which they either abandon or sell it to scrap dealers," he said. "In most of the cases if the bike was old the owner may not be interested in a case. They would rather prefer to go for an insurance claim."
