Two arrested following spate of bike thefts in west Kent

Two teenagers have been arrested following a series of motorcycle thefts in west Kent.

Between 4 April and 9 August 2026, Kent Police received 11 reports of motorbike thefts from Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

On each occasion, the victims reported a group of suspects removing bike locks and pushing the vehicles away. In some instances, the bikes had allegedly been discarded and officers later recovered them nearby.

An investigation was launched and officers carried out house to house enquiries, as well as an extensive review of available CCTV.

Arrested

A 19 year old man from Sidcup and a 16 year old boy from Tonbridge have now been arrested on suspicion of theft.

Both have since been released on bail and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incidents.

Appeal

Anyone with information is urged to call the west Kent appeals line on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/126181/26.

Advice

Detective Constable Alice Henham said:

‘Kent Police takes all reports of theft seriously and understands the impact of vehicle theft on owners, especially those who rely on their vehicles for their daily commute or to get around. ‘On receiving a report of theft, investigating officers will follow all available lines of enquiry to recover vehicles and bring the thieves to justice. ‘To deter thieves, we encourage bike owners to lock, chain and cover vehicles, keep them in a secure outbuilding and consider using alarm systems with tracking and immobilisation or property markers.’

You can find more information about how to keep your bike safe on the Kent Police website: Keeping vehicles safe