A continent-wide problem
Scooter and motorbike theft is a growing concern across European cities. Unlike bicycle theft, these crimes often involve more organised operations and can be linked to other criminal activities. Ronda tracks these patterns across borders.
London: the moped crime capital
London has long struggled with moped-enabled crime, where stolen scooters are used for phone snatching and delivery rider robberies. Hotspots include Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets, with a strong correlation between phone theft and moped theft clusters.
Rome and Naples: motorino culture at risk
Italy's scooter culture makes it a prime target. Rome and Naples see thousands of Vespa and modern scooter thefts annually. Professional rings often ship stolen bikes to North Africa within 48 hours of theft.
Paris: the two-wheel wave
Scooter theft in Paris has risen sharply alongside the popularity of electric scooters. The 18th and 19th arrondissements are worst affected, with thefts peaking between 22:00 and 02:00.
What the data shows
Across all cities, three patterns emerge: proximity to major transport links, late-night timing, and targeting of specific brands and models. Community reporting through Ronda helps identify these patterns faster than police data alone, which typically has a 2–3 month lag.