Inside motorcycle theft in India

What thieves reveal & OEM countermeasures

India 2-wheeler theft through offenders’ eyes

Across the globe vehicle thefts fell from the 1990s to the mid-2010s but they have started to rise again in recent years. This is especially true of the Indian market where a 30% rise was seen in two years from 2020 to 2022. This research study was conducted in the Bangalore city area where over 13,000 two wheelers were stolen in 2.5 years.

This article combines exploratory in-depth interviews with three active motorcycle thieves and a technical review by SBD Automotive’s anti-theft experts. It maps out the theft process, current theft prevention countermeasure effectiveness, which models are more likely to be targeted, and industry recommendations.

Key insights:

1. Economic hardship is the main driver for theft
   

2. Limited experience and knowledge is needed to begin – YouTube is used as a primary information source
   

3. Many anti-theft countermeasures today are ineffective - Mechanical locks remain the easiest to pick/break
   

4. Immobilisers and GPS technologies complicates the theft process
   

5. Police action, GPS tracking, CCTV, and phone tracking all help lead to conviction
   

6. However, a reduction in theft is minimal due to corruption and “informal settlements”

Whilst this study is limited in size, it highlights the 2-wheeler theft problem in India and the cultural challenges that make it difficult to solve. By applying this same offender-led methodology to their own models and markets, OEMs can build an evidence-based anti-theft strategy and make a meaningful impact.

Five step theft process takes 3 days

Thieves operate within small trusted teams with clearly defined roles. They usually steal in small groups of 2–3 people with a “lookout” to stand at a distance and watch the surroundings, the “operator” who carries out the theft, and the “helper” who carries the tools and stolen items.

The theft is completed over a three-day period, with the stolen bike parts being sold in used parts markets, such as Gujri Market in Bangalore. These markets sell used motorcycle and car parts, scrap metal, salvaged components, refurbished items etc.

Arrests for stealing motorcycles are rare and usually happen due to small operational errors:

§In one case, the owner showed up immediately during the theft and alerted the police, prompting a swift arrest.

§In another case, the thief's clothing got caught on the bike’s handle bar while fleeing, causing capture.

Thieves often use social engineering tactics to gain sympathy from the public crowd and owners, explaining their actions as driven by necessity and family obligations. If this fails, they try negotiating informal financial settlements with the owner. Many maintain a contingency fund of around Rs 30,000 ($339). This money is reserved and used for settlements with police or owners before cases are formally filed to avoid jail.

Current theft prevention countermeasures are ineffective

	Mechanical Locks	Smart Digital Locks	EV/Connected Locks
Engagement time	2-5 min	8-15 minutes	15-25 minutes
Tools required	Screwdriver Pliers Pry bar	Default PIN exploitation Basic circuit manipulation	Battery disconnection GPS signal jamming Tracker harness cut
Vulnerabilities	Weak body structures and design Locking pin material strength too weak Keys easily duplicated	Unchanged factory PINs Lack of mandatory PIN resets Inadequate circuit / harness shielding	Exposed wiring harnesses Absence of real-time tamper alerts Infrequent firmware updates
SBD Automotive countermeasures viewpoint	Develop an achievable internal anti-theft test standard
	Work with a supplier to design a lock that meets internal standard	Develop a secure module design, installation and harness routing	Develop a secure module design, installation and harness routing

Why are certain brands and models targeted?

Petrol bikes; thieves primarily target the engine and mechanical components. Body panels can also be attractive. Electric bikes; valuable batteries, body panels, electronic circuitry, belts, and tyres are the main targets for theft. Scarcity and the high cost of original replacement in official service centers creates a strong black-market demand.

Type	Brand	모델	Reason for theft
ICE	Hero Motors	Splendor Plus	High popularity, simple mechanical locks, engines and major parts have high resale demand; body parts lose value if vehicle age >3 years (due to wear and tear)
	Bajaj	Pulsar Series	Popular sporty bike; engine and mechanical parts are sought after; older models less secure
	TVS	Jupiter	Popular; some replacement parts limited in service centers creating higher black-market demand
	Honda	Activa, CD110	High demand for certain replacement engine and body parts
	Hero Motors	Passion Pro	High selling petrol bike; prized for engine and main parts; body parts less targeted
	Royal Enfield	Classic 350	Premium bike; high resale price for engine parts. Old model is fitted with a simple mechanical lock. Body parts are less valuable. The new model is more difficult to unlock
EV	Bajaj	Chetak	Rising popularity; batteries, panels, circuits have high value; digital locks can be bypassed
	TVS	iQube	Growing market share; high demand for batteries, tyres, panels; shortage of some replacement parts
	Ola	S1, S1 Pro	Premium EVs; expensive body panels, circuits, and belts make them high-value targets; limited replacement parts in official service centres further increase the demand
	Ather	450X	A lack of new replacement parts means there is a high demand. Especially panels, battery, belts

How to reduce motorcycle thefts

Adam Jefferson Senior UX Expert SBD Automotive

The number of thefts of 2-wheelers in India continues to rise. In 2023, the National Criminal Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 224,187 stolen motorcycles, of which only 62,045 were recovered. This issue can be viewed as an opportunity where improved security can reduce theft exposure and allow differentiation in a crowed market.

The security of motorbikes and scooters has always been a challenge to security engineers and designers. Unlike passenger cars and vans, the open design and accessibility of systems, makes concealing and protecting ECUs, harnesses or locking systems difficult.

We are independent vehicle security specialists who have been supporting global OEMs, suppliers and insurers across the automotive industry for over 28 years. Our dedicated anti-theft team combines expertise from engineering, electronic security and in-market research through real-world offender analysis in high-theft markets.

To find out more about how SBD Automotive can support your vehicle security programs, contact us today

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