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A BBC investigation has uncovered a troubling trend of teenagers openly boasting about stealing motorcycles on TikTok, with many posting videos of themselves posing alongside stolen bikes. Besides flaunting the thefts, some offenders are even using the platform to sell the stolen vehicles. This public display leaves victims feeling powerless as their prized possessions are treated like trophies online.
Data from Great Britain reveals that over half of motorcycle theft suspects last year were under 18 years old, where age information was available. One expert in the field described the thefts as “a game” where young offenders compete with one another in speed and daring. Despite TikTok removing some accounts for violating their rules, numerous incriminating videos remain publicly accessible.
One victim, Richard Thompson from Grimsby, shared his distress after his wife’s moped was stolen during her night shift. CCTV footage showed three masked youths riding the vehicle, with at least one appearing as young as 10 to 12 years old. A video of the stolen moped was found on TikTok with the caption “Catch me in traffic #stolen,” which Thompson called “disgusting.” After reporting the incident to Humberside Police, he took to social media to trace the bike and discovered suspects’ identities. Although he contacted one suspect’s parent who confirmed their child was in the video, the police response frustrated him deeply. Thompson recalled a police officer saying they could not pursue the teenagers, citing risks of injury if they fell off the bike. “My response was, ‘wow, I’d expect you to do your job’,” he said. His case, opened in October 2025, was closed just two days later.
The BBC also observed that TikTok videos related to motorbike theft were posted under hashtags that seemed to glorify criminal activity. The faces of the thieves are often concealed by balaclavas or emojis, with some clips featuring tools like bolt cutters or tips on hot-wiring bikes. Many of these accounts have thousands of followers and videos dating back to 2023. Victims often face mockery on these platforms, with pleas for help ignored. Freedom of information requests to 45 UK police forces revealed nearly 9,600 recorded motorbike theft offences, with more than half of suspects recorded as being under 18—a stark contrast to just 8% of under-18s arrested for all crimes in England and Wales.
Experts and campaigners express growing frustration. Dr. Ken German of the Motorcycle Crime Reduction Group emphasized how teenagers treat these thefts as a competition, prioritizing speed and social media attention. Kenny Wilson, who leads the Bikers Against Bike Theft UK campaign, warned of rising tensions, fearing some victims may resort to vigilante actions. Indeed, the BBC learned of an 18-year-old man who suffered severe finger injuries after stolen bikes were found in his garden, an incident leading to police arrests.
Victims like Sam Gibb from Grimsby share how their valuable motorcycles, sometimes worth thousands of pounds, have been stolen and then sold online for
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