The owners have been busy searching for the lost motorcycles in Tahan, San, Satawm Quarts in Kalay town, Khampat town, Chekkan, Kanaan villages in Tamu Township in Sagaing Division, the local added.

"We were searching for our friend's motorcycle last week but we could not find it till today. We had reported the matter to the police but they are not doing anything about it," the local said.

Every week, a minimum of three motorcycles disappear. No culprit has been arrested yet.  

Most of the lost motorcycles are made in China such as Kenbo and 125cc Hemsim.  The current value of a Chinese motorcycle without license is Kyat 750,000 (US $ 576.923). The registered motorcycles cost over Kyat 1,200,000 (US $ 923.07).

Chinese motorcycles are mostly used by people in northwestern Burma as they are available in the markets at a reasonable price.

Almost every resident in Kalay and Tamu Township own a China and India made motorcycles. This makes it difficult for the police to trace the stolen two wheelers, said a local.

Local people believe that the reason for stealing the motorcycles has to do with the economic crisis in Myanmar. Most cannot procure enough food for day to day survival. They seem to have resorted to stealing. – Khonumthung.