Kathmandu, April 30

Kathmandu valley reported 1,398 complaints of bike thefts during eight months of the current fiscal 2018-19. However, only 376 bikes were recovered over the period, according to Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

“Of the recovered bikes, we handed over 263 two-wheelers to their owners upon verification of documents, while 99 unclaimed bikes were submitted to the Department of Customs for further legal process,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Basant Kumar Pant who is also MTPD in-charge. He informed that MTPD had arrested 69 persons involved in lifting motorcycles in eight months of the current fiscal.

Victim Support Unit at MTPD had received 1,634 complaints of bike theft in 2017-18. Of them, traffic police had managed to retrieve 461 two-wheelers and arrested 42 persons in connection with the property crime.

Bouddha, Jorpati, Pepsicola, Baneshwor, Koteshwor, Chabahil, Budhanilkantha, Maharajgunj, Thamel, Sundhara, Balaju, Kalanki, Pulchowk, Jawalakhel and Lagankhel are the places from where motorcycle were mostly lifted.

Hospital and cinema hall premises and busy markets are more vulnerable to bike thefts, according to police.

MTPD said that most of the bikes stolen from the valley were found to have been used outside Kathmandu valley in places like in Birtamod, Damak, Biratnagar, Dharan, Inaruwa, Saptari, Rautahat, Kaski, Rupandehi, Surkhel and Kailali. The stolen bikes were also used in some hill districts that have road networks but lack the presence of law enforcement officials.

Traffic police deploy sleuths led by an inspector in remote hill and the Terai areas to intercept stolen bikes.

Almost all two-wheelers lifted from the valley are sold to clients in other districts. Buyers usually posses fake blue book and use the two-wheelers to transport fodder and milk.

Racketeers are found selling a stolen bike for Rs 20,000 to Rs 100,000 depending on its condition and brand.

SSP Pant suggested bike owners to park their two-wheelers at safe places with handles locked and also to install intelligent locking system with double lock options, making it difficult for thieves to lift bikes.

He said traffic police had stepped up surveillance against bike theft to combat the property crime. “Owners should be on high alert to prevent potential theft. We encourage the owners to use wheel-lock, disc-lock, brake-lock, fuel-lock system and GPS tracker in their bikes to ensure safety of their properties,” SSP Pant suggested.