Police have dismantled a motorcycle theft syndicate and arrested five people, believed to be linked to 14 cases across Hong Kong, amid a rise in such crimes in the first quarter of the year.

Senior Inspector Fu Ho-shing of the Kowloon West regional crime unit said on Saturday that the group primarily targeted motorcycles parked in back alleys or secluded areas in West Kowloon and Tsuen Wan, where surveillance coverage is limited.

They also targeted delivery workers who left their vehicles unattended or with engines running while making drop-offs.

“Some of the stolen motorcycles were parked in locations without CCTV coverage, increasing the difficulty of our investigation,” Fu said.

Police said the syndicate operated with clearly defined roles.

One member acted as a lookout, while another tampered with the vehicle’s wiring to start it. A third then moved the stolen motorcycle to a remote location for handover to buyers.