Western Australia Police have arrested 36 individuals and recovered more than 50 stolen motorbikes as part of a targeted operation against thieves who exploit online marketplaces to steal high-value items from sellers.
Offenders are increasingly using platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, often with fake profiles, to obtain sellers' addresses and then steal expensive items from garages, sheds, or yards, police revealed in a statement on Tuesday.
Operation Details and Statistics
Between January 1 and June 21, police conducted targeted operations, proactive patrols, and community engagement activities across the metropolitan area in response to this type of crime. The crackdown resulted in 36 arrests and the recovery of more than 50 stolen motorbikes.
Police Advice for Sellers
To reduce the risk of being robbed, police advise sellers to avoid including identifiable features in listings that could reveal their location, not display high-value items where they can attract attention, secure items with locks, and consider attaching them to something immovable.
The public is also reminded to properly secure storage areas, consider using tracking devices, be mindful of people following them, meet buyers in public locations, not hand over items until payment is confirmed, and leave immediately if a situation feels wrong.
Recent Incidents Under Investigation
A number of cases remain under investigation. In Yanchep on Monday, two offenders entered a home's rear yard on Lagoon Drive around 3.55am and forced their way into a garage, but were unsuccessful due to a disc-lock alarm on the motorbike. Police believe the victim had recently advertised the motorbike for sale on a social media marketplace.
In Darlington on May 30, a red Honda motorcycle was stolen from a shed on Miranda Road. Another theft occurred in South Yunderup on March 2, where a white and blue Yamaha off-road motorcycle was taken from a home.
In Hocking on April 8, two offenders burned a hole through a garage door and stole a blue Honda motorbike and a blue Yamaha motorbike. The Yamaha has been recovered, but the Honda remains missing.
Appeal for Information
Police encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour, has information relating to motorcycle thefts or burglaries, or is aware of premises where off-road motorcycles regularly enter and leave under suspicious circumstances—potentially involved in the storage, movement, or sale of stolen motorcycles—to report the information to Crime Stoppers.
