Long Distance Tracking Effort Locates Stolen Motorcycle

WHEN your pride and joy is stolen you always hope you’ll see it again. Tracking services naturally boost the chances of recovery, but one lucky bike owner has Bike Trac and Interpol to thank for the return of their prized possession after a particularly lengthy search.

Taken on a Monday evening from South London, the £12,000 Ducati 899 Panigale was quickly confirmed as stolen thanks to the equipped Bike Trac unit communicating with its owner and the firm’s operating centre.

Despite everyone’s best efforts the bike crossed the English Channel before UK police could reach it. However, a mixture of GPS signal and the triangulation of mobile phone masts across Europe allowed Bike Trac to keep an eye on its movements.

Now Tuesday and with the bike in Lithuania, the tracking team traced it to the town of Vilnius. The following day, and with the help of Interpol, local Lithuanian authorities moved in and secured the stolen bike.

Commenting on the operation, Sue Hitchmough, General Manager for Bike Trac parent company Road Angel Group, said: "To recover a stolen motorcycle over 1,000 miles away is no better example of the effectiveness of tracking technology. This is naturally a huge success for us, but it's also a great example to everyone that tracking really does work.

“I'd like to personally thank everyone involved in this recovery from our team at HQ to Interpol and to the Lithuanian authorities. It's very pleasing to know so many people want to stamp out bike theft."

By Press Association reporters