Johannesburg, South Africa – November 27, 2025 – Motorbike thefts have escalated across South Africa throughout 2025, with law enforcement agencies reporting a significant increase in incidents involving various types of motorcycles, including off-road models and quad bikes. Police data and recovery operations indicate that organised syndicates are dismantling stolen vehicles for parts or smuggling them across borders, particularly to Mozambique. High-demand brands like Big Boy, which produces off-road dirt bikes and quad bikes, and Yamaha have been frequently targeted in these crimes.
In Nelson Mandela Bay, authorities recorded approximately 80 motorbike theft cases in a single month during 2025. These thefts were reported at multiple police stations, including Humewood, Mount Road, Walmer, and Kabega. The incidents primarily occurred in high-density residential areas, shopping centres, and public parking lots, where thieves employed advanced tools to override locks and immobilisers. Operations often took place under the cover of night, with groups coordinating to load bikes onto trailers or bakkies for quick getaway. Delivery scooters and high-end sport bikes were among the most commonly stolen, as thieves exploited moments when owners left vehicles unattended.
This regional spike mirrors a broader national trend, with notable increases in motorbike thefts in major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Pretoria. The rising cost of vehicles and spare parts has fueled a thriving black market, making motorbikes attractive targets for resale or disassembly. Insurance providers and police have noted that delivery drivers are particularly vulnerable, as their work requires brief stops that leave bikes exposed.
One of the most prominent cases unfolded in June 2025, when South African Police Service (SAPS) officers intercepted a truck near Polokwane en route from Cape Town to Beitbridge. Acting on intelligence, authorities discovered engine parts from a stolen Ford Ranger and other components hidden in the load. Upon full unloading, they uncovered 30 stolen motorcycles, all reported missing from the Cape Town area. This discovery highlighted the scale of organised theft networks transporting vehicles toward border regions.
In a related incident that same month, Limpopo police recovered 60 disassembled motorcycles concealed in drums and containers during an operation targeting illegal border crossings. These bikes had been reported stolen from various Western Cape police stations, including Bellville, Mfuleni, Muizenberg, Nyanga, Milnerton, Sea Point, and Athlone. Four suspects, identified as illegal foreigners traveling to Zimbabwe, were arrested in connection with the chopped parts of a Ford Ranger and the motorcycles. The operation underscored the cross-border dimension of these crimes, with vehicles often dismantled to evade detection at checkpoints.
Also in June 2025, three Mozambican nationals aged between 32 and 37 were apprehended in Kingsway, Springs, Gauteng, as part of an intelligence-driven sting by SAPS Crime Intelligence and the Ekurhuleni District Crime Prevention Unit. The suspects were found with two dismantled motorcycles wrapped in black refuse bags, one of which had been stolen from Cosmo City in Johannesburg earlier that month. Additionally, a silver Yamaha Jet Ski was being loaded onto a trailer attached to a white Toyota Hilux. The items were destined for transport to Mozambique, pointing to a suspected cross-border syndicate. One suspect attempted to flee but was captured, and all three faced charges in Benoni Magistrate’s Court. Police believe additional members of the group remain at large.
Recovery efforts have yielded successes amid the surge. In July 2025, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) K9 officers, while patrolling Empire Road, spotted a white Big Boy motorbike being driven recklessly toward Clarendon Street. A check on the eNatis system confirmed it was stolen, as per an Alexandra SAPS case. The driver, an illegal foreigner, claimed to have purchased it in an informal settlement in Protea, Soweto. Officers followed the lead and recovered a second stolen motorbike, a Honda, reported missing in a Roodepoort SAPS case, which had been partially stripped. The suspect was detained at Hillbrow SAPS for further investigation.
In August 2025, JMPD K9 units responded to a Tracker SA alert for a stolen white Big Boy motorbike traced to Schoeman Street in Langlaagte. Upon arrival, they found a suspect stripping the bike in a field and arrested him on the spot for possession of stolen property. The individual was held at Langlaagte SAPS.
More recent recoveries occurred in November 2025. Cartrack’s recovery team, using real-time IoT tracking, located a stolen Big Boy motorcycle in Khayelitsha and, in a related find, another stolen bike in Rondebosch. One arrest was made, and both vehicles were returned to their owners. Separately, Monitor Net reaction units recovered a stolen motorcycle in Eldoraigne after an early-morning alert.
Joint operations in the Southern Corridor, involving Gauteng Traffic Police, JMPD, Gauteng Traffic Wardens, Rentrak, Tracker SA, and Cartrack, have also netted multiple recoveries. Among them were a hijacked Hyundai H100 and other vehicles, alongside discoveries of chop shops in Vereeniging containing bakkie parts and additional motor vehicle components. A microdot scan on an Isuzu bin confirmed stolen status.
These incidents reflect a pattern where thieves target accessible bikes, often using reckless driving or quick disassembly to facilitate transport. SAPS and private security firms continue to urge owners to install tracking devices, secure keys, and report suspicious activity promptly. With over 100 documented recoveries and arrests tied to motorbike thefts in 2025 alone, authorities emphasize the role of intelligence and community vigilance in combating this ongoing threat.
