Dorset Police seeking assistance after 10 bikes stolen from Rotate Motorcycles dealership

Rotate Motorcycles in Bournemouth are appealing to the public for information after their used bike showroom was targeted by thieves, who stole ten bikes under the cover of darkness including a number of special edition superbikes.

Rotate owner and founder, Ross Allison said the bikes were stolen between 1am and 4am on Tuesday, May 21. Motorcycles taken during the break-in include a 2019 Ducati Panigale V4 Speciale, a 2019 Yamaha R1M, two Ducati Panigale V4S’, and a 2020 Kawasaki Z H2 naked.

“Intruders came through the neighbouring property to avoid the main gates and CCTV and then entered our compound/farm from the fence at the rear,” the company founder told MCN. “They then gained entry to the unit through the rear door by forced entry.”

He continued: “They had stolen a Luton-style van from a local business in Blandford half an hour before, which they then drove to our place to load up with the bikes. No equipment was taken, no parts, or anything like that. They purely targeted the bikes.”

MCN spoke with Dorset Police following the incident, who received reports of the theft at around 9.20am on Tuesday morning. A spokesperson for the force stated that helmets were also taken and that they were not prepared to comment on the vehicle used to transport the bikes at this time.

Rotate was founded by former Bournemouth Kawasaki employee Allison in 2022, who sank £90,000 of his own money into the business to get it off the ground. It now holds a healthy stock of quality used motorcycles, ranging from sportsbikes, to super-nakeds, cruisers, and off-road machinery.

“I’ve just built it up by hard graft, you know,” Allison continued. “There’s not any investors or backing, it’s purely my shop with me and another technician, and a part-time employee as well. 

“This is the first time it’s happened, and it was gutting. We came round, saw the door open, and ran in. Where we’ve got so many bikes and there was empty holes within the showroom, we had to sit and work out what was gone.”

On top of the superbikes taken, a series of off-roaders were also stolen, including a 2023 KTM EXC 300 Hard Enduro, a 2015 KTM EXC 250, and a 2022 Husqvarna TE300.

The police team further confirmed that no arrests had yet been made and that anyone with information relating to the incident should get in contact via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55240075556.