Motorcycle theft remains one of the most prevalent property crimes in Malaysia, driven by factors such as high

demand for spare parts, ease of mobility, and insufficient physical security in public parking areas. To address

this issue, this paper presents the design and development of a centralized anti-theft motorcycle system that

integrates smart surveillance, mobile-based user authentication, and automated locking mechanisms. The

proposed system utilizes a modular architecture comprising a robotic gripper, ultrasonic sensors, and an ESP-32

In Malaysia, there are approximately 12 million motorcycles registered with the Road Transport Department

(RTD) [1], which is a significant number when compared to the country’s population of around 34 million [2].

Motorcycles are commonly chosen as the primary mode of transport because they’re affordable, fuel-efficient,

and practical especially for short trips in urban and suburban areas [3], [4]. Moreover, the lack of reliable public

transportation options often pushes lower-income households and rural communities to rely on motorcycles [5].

Their flexibility and ability to save time in heavy traffic also make them a popular choice for daily commuting

[5].

Despite being the main form of transportation for many Malaysians, motorcycle theft remains one of the most

Motorcycle theft tends to be concentrated in suburban areas, where facilities like bus stops and shops create

opportunities for offenders to target parked vehicles. Socioeconomic factors also play a role—areas with a high

number of low-income residents and domestic migrants are more prone to theft, suggesting that economic

hardship and residential instability are major contributors. Interestingly, the presence of surveillance cameras

was found to correlate positively with theft incidents. This may be because such areas attract more motorcycles,

inadvertently increasing the chances of theft rather than deterring it [9]. Studies also show that peer influence is

a key factor among youth offenders, especially when family and school support systems are weak [10]. Many of

these crimes are committed in groups, with 80% of teenage offenders aged 15–18 admitting they were influenced

by friends with similar backgrounds [11]. These insights highlight the pressing need for a system that can

effectively reduce the risk of motorcycle theft.

basic CCTV systems alone are often insufficient to deter such incidents [12].

While various standalone anti-theft devices exist, they are typically limited in scope and rely heavily on

individual user vigilance. This fragmented approach has proven ineffective in shared environments where

multiple motorcycles are parked without coordinated security measures. Recent advancements in smart

surveillance systems, including edge computing and AI-based monitoring, have shown promise in improving

detection accuracy and real-time response in public parking scenarios [13], [14].

Moreover, a bibliometric analysis by W.Q Fan et al. highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence in smart

city surveillance systems, emphasizing the need for ethical and robust governance framework to ensure public

thrust and effectiveness [15]. These insights reinforce the importance of integrating intelligent technologies into

urban safety infrastructure.

the proposed solution aims to reduce theft incidents and improve overall safety for motorcycle owners.

The block diagram of the proposed system is as shown in Fig. 1. The centralized anti-theft motorcycle system is

developed with a focus on enhancing security, scalability, and user accessibility in shared parking environments.

The architecture is modular, allowing each component to perform a distinct role while maintaining seamless

integration across the system.

Fig. 1. Block diagram of the system.

At the core of the system lies the apps control databases, which not only stores user credentials and motorcycle

status but also acts as the decision-making centre. This centralized control enables real-time monitoring and

remote access, allowing users to interact with the system through a mobile application. The app interface is

designed to be intuitive, enabling users to lock or unlock their motorcycles, receive alerts, and track activity with

minimal effort.

Once authenticated, a secure command is transmitted to the terminal unit installed at the parking site. This unit

processes the command and activates the driving circuit, which in turn engages the locking mechanism to

physically secure the motorcycle. The entire process is completed within seconds, and the user receives a

confirmation notification on their device.

The terminal unit serves as the physical interface between the digital commands and the motorcycle’s security

hardware. It receives encrypted instructions from the database and processes them through the driving circuit,

which is responsible for activating the Locking Mechanism. This mechanism is engineered to physically secure

the motorcycle, preventing unauthorized movement or tampering.

robust physical security, the system offers a practical and scalable solution to address the growing concern of

motorcycle theft.

As the prove of concept for the system, a lab scale prototype was design and developed. A lab-scale prototype

is essential to demonstrate the practical feasibility of a proposed concept before full-scale development. It allows

the core functionalities tested, identify design flaws, and optimize performance in a controlled environment. For

this research, the prototype helps simulate detection and control mechanisms, ensuring the system works

effectively before being implemented in actual parking areas.

There are four major components in the system which are; locking mechanism, terminal unit, apps control for

Fig. 2. Hardware of the system.

The component that playing role to ensure to keep the motorcycle in safe position is the locking mechanism. A

robot gripper drive by a stepper motor were used to construct the locking mechanism. Detail of the construction

is as shown in Figure 3.

The robot gripper is used to securely lock the front tyre of a motorcycle. The motion of the robot gripper to lock

detects the presence of a motorcycle tire. Once the presence is confirmed, the system awaits a locking instruction

from the terminal unit. Upon receiving this command, the robotic gripper that driven by a stepper motor moves

into the locked position to secure the motorcycle tire. Unlocking, however, is only permitted after successful

user identification, ensuring that only authorized users can release the lock. This sequence not only prevents

accidental locking but also enhances the overall security and user trust in the system. Then, the locking

mechanism is revert into idle position while waiting the next cycle of it operation.

QR code via mobile app; basic

HTTPS communication

Encrypted QR code; secure HTTPS/TLS; fail-safe

override

Limited to local control; no cloud

Cloud integration; remote monitoring; admin

payment systems, enhancing both user convenience and operational efficiency.

Users begin by scanning a QR code, which launches a secure web-based application. This application

communicates with the ESP-32 microcontroller to retrieve real-time information on available parking spaces.

Once the user parks in an empty slot and the ultrasonic sensor confirms the presence of the motorcycle, the

corresponding parking space icon on the app is activated. The user can then select this icon and proceed to enter

their credentials for authentication. Only after successful verification is the locking mechanism enabled, allowing

the robotic gripper to secure the motorcycle tire. This interactive process simplifies user engagement, enhances

security, and ensures that locking operations are performed only by authorized individuals. This sequence of

operation of the web-based apps control is as shown in Figure 8.

To further enhance user confidence and system transparency, the web-based application integrates with a passive

The proposed architecture and features are sufficient for a functional prototype and can be extended for real-

world deployment with additional measures for security, scalability, and reliability. Enhancements such as

encrypted communication, token-based QR authentication, cloud integration, and fail-safe mechanisms will

ensure the system operates securely and efficiently in practical environments.

Fig. 9. Additional feature of web-based apps control.

seamless compatibility with the ESP-32 microcontroller and built-in wireless communication capabilities. The

camera continuously records footage of the parking area, storing video streams in a dedicated surveillance

incorporates a passive surveillance feature. The prototype utilizes an ESP-32 camera module for simplicity and

seamless integration with the ESP-32 microcontroller. However, for real-world deployment, the surveillance

system should adopt high-resolution IP cameras (minimum 1080p or 2MP) to ensure clear identification of

vehicles and individuals, in line with IEC/EN 62676 recommendations for pixel density.

Fig. 10. Passive surveillance system using ESP-32 camera.

Recorded footage must be stored securely in a dedicated repository or cloud storage with encryption, and having

certain retention period such as within 30 to 90 days for general premises and up to 180 days for government

office buildings as specified in the guidelines typically in Malaysia perspective. Motion detection and time-

stamped logs should be implemented to optimize storage and provide reliable evidence. Table 3 shows

comparison between prototype and proposed real system for the passive surveillance system.

TABLE 3 Comparison between prototype and proposed real system for the passive surveillance system.

The design and development of a prototype for the centralized anti-theft motorcycle parking system have been

discussed. The components of the system are including locking mechanism, terminal unit, apps control and

passive surveillance system. All system components were integrating well by using MCU ESP-32 as its main

processor and apps control that communicating with the main processor wirelessly. The locking mechanism are

built with ultrasonic sensors for tire detection, and a stepper motor driven robotic gripper for secure locking.

Additional features such as passive surveillance integration and activity logging further enhance system security

and user confidence. While the prototype provides proof of concept, real-world implementation will require

improvements has also covered. Future work will focus on scalability, cloud integration, and advanced security

measures to deliver a robust, user-friendly, and secure centralized motorcycle parking solution suitable for