It’s no longer ‘Auf Wiedersehen’ as GMP’s Vehicle Examiners go above and beyond to reunite motorcycle

Greater Manchester Police’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit (SVEU) recently recovered and returned a motorbike to its rightful owner after a painstaking investigation that was a labour of love.

The SVEU are responsible for examining vehicles that are recovered by police officers which are either suspected stolen or have had their identities altered.

The rider, a German national, visited Scotland five years ago when whilst in Edinburgh had it stolen and much to his heartbreak at the end of the trip had to return across the channel empty handed and out of pocket.

But that wasn’t the end of the story, up popped the stolen vehicle in September 2023, when GMP officers responded to a report of males making off from a scene and failing to stop on Bolton Road in Salford in the early afternoon of the 21^st.

Sustaining minor damage from a crash with a tree, the bike was recovered and with no physical ID or check on the Police National Computer (PNC) as well as false details it got the investigative instincts of the vehicle examiners tingling.

With no registration, extensive enquiries identified it as stolen and with the assistance of counterparts from specialised officers in Europe they were able to call on their expertise to identify the motorbike to be of German origin.

This led to GMP contacting Interpol, who in turn made official contact with German authorities and later were able to contact the victim who provided the necessary details, preventing it from being crushed.

After sheer perseverance and doing what was morally right, the result showcases the vital work that is carried out by experienced employees who have a vast amount of knowledge of all makes and models of vehicles.

On reuniting the motorcycle and revealing its true identity Vehicle Examiner Dave Murphy from GMP’s Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit said; “This was pure determination and a team effort to find the rightful owner. With the UK out of the European Union now direct access to systems from forces in other countries has meant it has been harder for us to track and trace, but with other inventive ways of working and the help of our recovery agents, Mansfield, we were able to return the motorbike to the rider.

“Being a rider myself it is a tight-knit and supportive community which means we have taken great pleasure in giving this story a happy ending as we didn’t want it to be crushed and unclaimed despite being stolen and then used in crime.

“Our work as vehicles examiners often goes unnoticed, but we know our skills, knowledge and expertise is crucial in finding evidence to link vehicles to crime but also back to victims.

“It was a nice surprise for all to receive and give the call to the victim after he thought he would never see his bike again and moving on with his life years ago.”

The Stolen Vehicle Examination Unit is part of Specialist Operations, Roads Policing Unit based in Eccles and is home to a number of police staff who as a unit have over 140 years’ combined experience in the motor industry.

Stolen cars and finding those responsible, remains a GMP force priority with operations running across all districts in Greater Manchester, with a collective goal; to crackdown on offenders who are stealing vehicles which are often sold on, broken into parts or used to commit further offences.

Anyone with information about car thefts or suspicious activity is taking place at premises can report it online or via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk. Alternatively, contact can be made to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.