Motorcycles are the focus of vehicle thefts ongoing in the Wabash Valley.
Sgt. Michael Ellerman, property crimes supervisor of the Terre Haute Police Department, issued an alert Friday stating that detectives have seen “specific increases” in the theft of Harley Davidson motorcycles, as well as sport motorcycles such as Kawasaki Ninjas and Honda CBR. Surrounding counties are reporting similar thefts.
Ellerman reports common factors in the thefts. They are occurring at night to motorcycles stored in open yards or parked curbside or on sidewalks.
“In most of these cases, none of the motorcycles have been chained up or locked in any manner,” Ellerman reports.
The THPD Auto Theft Division offers some suggestions for motorcycle owners to protect their property.
• Always lock the handlebars/front fork.
• Park the vehicle inside a garage or building.
• When possible, chain the vehicle to an immovable/stationary object.
• Don’t park overnight in strange neighborhoods.
“Citizens should know and understand that motorcycles are easily stolen due to many factors including their size/weight and their value on the black market,” Ellerman stated. “Motorcycles are much more difficult to find once stolen compared to most other motor vehicles so be sure to take every precaution possible to watch out for yourself. Be diligent and pay attention to those asking about your vehicle or compliment you on how nice it is.”
Anyone listing a motorcycle for sale should pay attention to potential buyers and try to determine if they might be “casing” the motorcycle for a later theft. Owners are advised to write down the names of potential buyers or license plate numbers of suspicious vehicles so that, in case of a theft, the information can be given to police for investigation.
“Always remember that the first line of defense for everyone is and always should be preventative measures, and anyone can become a victim of vehicle theft.” Ellerman stated.
Anyone with information about a motorcycle theft is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 812-238-STOP.
