Raging Edinburgh biker finds stolen motorcycle 'torched within hours'
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An Edinburgh motorbike owner was angered after discovering his bike had been stolen and later torched by yobs.
Graeme Kay, from Balerno, would regularly use his bike to travel to his girlfriend's in Leith as well as to go on social rides with friends.
The 39-year-old had locked his bike up to a ground anchor on the corner of Leith Walk and Balfour Street at around 8pm on Monday June 16.
But to his horror the following morning he discovered thieves had used an 'angle grinder' tool to cut through his heavy duty chain.
The applications developer shared the details of the theft in the Stolen Motorbikes Edinburgh Facebook group on Tuesday June 17 but was gutted when a member informed him it had been charred on a popular cycle path.
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'I woke up at about 8am on Tuesday and could instantly see something was wrong leaving the building,' he said. 'There were scorch marks on the chain, I think they used an angle grinder to cut one of the links.
'I told the police and contacted them twice for updates but heard nothing back. Within 30 minutes of posting in the Facebook group I was told it had been found on the pat at Ferry Road Walk.
'It was torched and gone. I'd just filled it up with a full tank of gas.'
Graeme explained due to his specific insurance policy, it would be pointless to claim for the vehicle. He said it would be another year before he is able to replace the bike.
'I'm annoyed,' he said. 'It is bizarre because the bike was difficult to see but I do not know if someone has gone by it and called guys to come and steal it.
'There seems to be a network of these guys stealing bikes. I think they thought it was an expensive model because it is a low rider and maybe they torched it when they realised it was not worth it.
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'The bit that annoys me is why torch it. I guess it is because they can and they keep getting away with it.
'I knew the problem was bad in Edinburgh when you see these folk on Sur-rons doing wheelies with no helmet and balaclavas across the city. But I did not realise how bad it was until people I know who do biking tours said they will completely avoid Edinburgh.'
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 8.50am on Tuesday, 17 June, 2025, we received a report of a motorcycle being stolen in the Balfour Street area of Edinburgh. Enquiries are ongoing.'
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