How easily can motorcycle theft spiral out of control? That’s a question the attorneys who ride at the Metier Law Firm have been asking all month. You see, recent numbers revealed that motorcycle theft here in the U.S. has gone up, and though thefts aren’t out of control, it’s a delicate balancing act. Across the pond, the British Isles are having a particularly tough time with a motorcycle theft epidemic, and some are ready to take extreme measures.

The British Motorcycle Theft Epidemic: Can the Crime Wave Be Stopped?

Not but a few weeks ago, The Dark Knight Rises star Tom Hardy tackled a motorcycle thief and held him till the police arrived. Many have labeled the act as superheroism from a man who plays super vilians, but it may have been an act of frustration. That’s because the United Kingdom—and London in particular—has been swamped by a motorcycle theft crimewave. Worse yet, the police don’t seem to be doing anything about it.

Since 2013, the number of bikes stolen in London has almost doubled. In 2016, 14,971 motorcycles and mopeds were nicked—as the British would say—and London police won’t do anything about it. According to Zander Warren of Drivetribe, the police are refusing to chase these criminals out of fear that they will hurt bystanders and trigger lawsuits. However, the stakes in this crime war are steadily rising.

How Are Thieves Getting Away with This?

Thieves in London are getting so brazen, they are stealing bikes in broad daylight. They show up on a moped with an angle grinder and weapons. They threaten violence on those who try to stop them, and then push the stolen bike away with the moped after they have cut all the bike’s locks off. More and more passersby have been confronting these individuals, sometimes forming mobs that chase the thieves away, but there’s a price.

Often times, even when the crooks don’t get the bike, the motorcycle is damaged and people are starting to get injured. Famous British car journalist James May has even declared open season on the lives of motorcycle thieves—though it was really a satirical plea to the police to start going after these criminals.

This is how easily motorcycle theft can get out of hand. Luckily, here in the U.S. our police forces aren’t so easily thwarted, but could this crimewave in Britain be a preview of what could come to pass here? Come back next week to find out what else we can do to stop motorcycle theft.