The Newcastle Herald has learned gangs of thieves spend days patrolling suburbs to find targets while gathering information on specific houses before striking.

After gathering targets, the light-footed thieves also use information including residential layouts, where bikes are stored and entry routes.

Thieves have also baited guard dogs or fed them biscuits so they don't wake owners.

On at least one occasion, thieves targeted two houses belonging to family members of one bike owner on the same night they failed to find the machine in his house.

At least 34 bikes were reported stolen across the Hunter in the past nine weeks. Hundreds have been reported missing since early 2009.

The latest victim, Highfields resident Dave Finlay, had two trail bikes worth up to $16,000 stolen some time overnight on Tuesday.

Mr Finlay did not know how the thieves could have targeted him - he had only just moved into the house and the bikes had not been taken outside at any stage.

The bikes were chained to each other inside a reinforced garage, but the thieves quietly removed a window to gain entry before cutting the chain and walking away with the machines.

"I have no idea how I did not hear them," Mr Finlay said.

Motorcycle dealer Graeme Boyd said owners should take notice if they were being followed when transporting bikes, install alarm systems and not wash or work on their machines in view of the street.

It is understood some victims have been targeted after advertising bikes for sale.