Figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research showed 338 vehicles were stolen in the Cessnock local government area in 2017 – up from 297 the year before, and equating to a rate of 595.5 incidents per 100,000 people.

Hunter Valley Police District Chief Inspector Dave Robinson says motorcycles account for a large percentage of the vehicles stolen in Cessnock.

“It’s quite prolific in this area,” he said.

“Motorcycle owners need to be on alert in relation to securing their motorcycles.”

It’s not just local residents who have fallen victim to motorbike thieves – three visitors to Cessnock had their bikes stolen over the weekend.

Two Yamaha motorcycles were stolen from the carpark of the Wine Country Motor Inn on Darwin Street, Cessnock between 2am and 5am Sunday, and a Harley Davidson was taken from the Travellers Rest motel at Aberdare on the same night.

The Yamahas are both WR-250R models, blue in colour, with the number plates MJH-95 and LOX-90.

The Harley-Davidson is a blue 2007 Softail with the number plate QWS-35.

All three stolen motorcycles remain outstanding. Police believe the stolen Yamahas are still being used in the Cessnock area, and urge the community to keep an eye out.

Chief Inspector Robinson said the Yamaha riders were in Cessnock for an adventure rally, which attracted about 60 participants from all over Australia.

“Events like that are great for our local economy, but thefts like these continue to damage the area’s reputation,” he said.

Chief Inspector Robinson said since the police district re-engineering in January, Hunter Valley police have made inroads into the stolen vehicle problem, and recognise it remains a significant issue.

Anyone with information on these thefts is asked to contact Cessnock Police on 4991 0199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

READ MORE: Car theft crisis: Cessnock second-worst in NSW