One simple way from getting your bike stolen.

[aschrauth]

Hello everybody thought Id share with you all a story that happened to me over the last couple of days.

Normally I take my bike to work but on the day in particular it was raining. (I live in a condo with a carport and normally keep my bike locked up) I came home from work the other day and found my bike laying against my neighbors car. Immediately I rushed out and looked for any damage to my neighbors car and my bike. ( she is an older lady that  owns a Brand New Hyundai Kona) Luckily for both of us there was no damage on either my bike or her car. I was scratching my head wondering how my bike wound up laying on its side, This is a 900lb bike and it couldn't have been moved by the wind. Then it dawned on me. Someone was trying to steal my scooter, Found out that it was chained up and got mad and decided to lay it down on my neighbors car.

Unfortunately this story has a sad ending. About three months ago I had bought a gas  leaf blower on FB marketplace that wasn't running for only $10.00 I replaced the Carb and fuel lines and got it running like new. Unfortunately it was not chained up and the thief that thought they could get away with my bike got away with my gas leaf blower.

Just remember if you live in an apartment or condo complex or are out with your scooter with open areas to ALWAYS lock up your things when not directly in supervision. Since this incident I have installed a CCTV camera and  a carport cam and put out signs. Im just glad that I locked up my bike before going to work or otherwise I would have never saw it again.

If you are wondering about the leaf blower, I called my local police department to report it stolen but they stated that there was nothing they could do without a SN. I called all the local pawn shops and checked FB marketplace and craigslist to no Avail.

Anyways, thanks for listening to my story and I hope my lesson will teach everyone the importance of Bike theft, or theft in general. Happy riding Everyone!!!

[Ruffus]

@aschrauth,
sorry to hear(read) that. Glad no one came to harm and it was your $10,- leafblower to didsappear only.
Bad enough anyway. Here in Italys north, even there are hundreths of scoots and motorcycles parked yearlong at the streets, you don't hear that much about stolen rides. Maybe too many around or thiefs too picky. Good idea to put a cam to cover your carport.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Glad your ride was not taken
I'm confused here - you have something which weighs 900 lbs - and later you mention a "scooter".
What is it which weighs 900lbs?....do you have a scooter as well?

Once found my Honda motorcycle leaning against the front of a car in a grocery parking lot. Person took my spot for their car after getting out to move my bike!
I was so angry that I can no longer remember what I did. (+ it was in the late 1960's)
Had another Honda motorcycle stolen from a locked garage in San Antonio while I was in Army medical training (late 1960's). They pried off the hasp on the garage door and rolled my bike right by my bedroom window. I asked the ins. agent how long I had to wait to see if the police would recover my Honda....he just chuckled and handed a check across the desk to me. Went to the Honda dealer and bought a bigger Honda. No problems with theft since that time.

Scooter theft is a big problem in some cities - like London.
Some have lost more than a couple. Still, they buy another Vespa.

Stig

[Kansas kymco]

Glad you didn't lose your scooter. Theft is a big  issue in a lot of large cities.  Small towns are not immune either, just less criminals to sort through. 

Stig it's common along border towns for vehicles to aquire new owner's. One person on Trailer Life forum had their Suburban stolen in a Texas town next to the border.  They were across the border shopping a couple of days later and they ran across their parked Suburban. They had a spare set of keys and drove back to Texas.

[CROSSBOLT]

Happybto hear youbstill have your bike, sorry about the leaf blower. Good on the cameras 'cause that can be fun all by itself. What's with the signs? What do the signs say? Most all folks ignore signs anyway!

I had a 2013 Downtown 300i stolen in 2016 from our carport in rural west Tennessee. Farm country. Nearest small town is ten miles south. Repaced it with new, old stock, same year and model. It and everything else is chained and locked to its own bag of cement buried in the ground and all behind a locked gate every night. What a PITA the busy work every day!

The thief is up for parole this month if he has done something to get a GED and other training for free while he is in. Hope he makes it. His accomplice is still loose...Mr. Winchester still waits....

[Kansas kymco]

Kind of funny but I have spent 10x more in security cameras and dvr's then what I had taken from me.  Crossbolt the sign can be as much of a deterrent as the security cameras.    My  sign says  simply (security cameras in use).   

[aschrauth]

Glad your ride was not taken
I'm confused here - you have something which weighs 900 lbs - and later you mention a "scooter".
What is it which weighs 900lbs?....do you have a scooter as well?

Once found my Honda motorcycle leaning against the front of a car in a grocery parking lot. Person took my spot for their car after getting out to move my bike!
I was so angry that I can no longer remember what I did. (+ it was in the late 1960's)
Had another Honda motorcycle stolen from a locked garage in San Antonio while I was in Army medical training (late 1960's). They pried off the hasp on the garage door and rolled my bike right by my bedroom window. I asked the ins. agent how long I had to wait to see if the police would recover my Honda....he just chuckled and handed a check across the desk to me. Went to the Honda dealer and bought a bigger Honda. No problems with theft since that time.

Scooter theft is a big problem in some cities - like London.
Some have lost more than a couple. Still, they buy another Vespa.

Stig

Stig, my scooter weighs about 790 lbs 800 with me on it, I kind of went over with the weight.

[aschrauth]

@aschrauth,
sorry to hear(read) that. Glad no one came to harm and it was your $10,- leafblower to didsappear only.
Bad enough anyway. Here in Italys north, even there are hundreths of scoots and motorcycles parked yearlong at the streets, you don't hear that much about stolen rides. Maybe too many around or thiefs too picky. Good idea to put a cam to cover your carport.

I live in a small town with approximately 30,000 people and this is the first time in 35 years I have had something stolen off my property. 60.00 in security cameras later I can pretty much monitor my carport from anywhere.

[aschrauth]

Happybto hear youbstill have your bike, sorry about the leaf blower. Good on the cameras 'cause that can be fun all by itself. What's with the signs? What do the signs say? Most all folks ignore signs anyway,

They are just cctv signs I bought at harbor freight saying that my property is under survalance, I doubt a thief would look at them but they give me peace of mind

I had a 2013 Downtown 300i stolen in 2016 from our carport in rural west Tennessee. Farm country. Nearest small town is ten miles south. Repaced it with new, old stock, same year and model. It and everything else is chained and locked to its own bag of cement buried in the ground and all behind a locked gate every night. What a PITA the busy work every day!

The thief is up for parole this month if he has done something to get a GED and other training for free while he is in. Hope he makes it. His accomplice is still loose...Mr. Winchester still waits....

[aschrauth]

Kind of funny but I have spent 10x more in security cameras and dvr's then what I had taken from me.  Crossbolt the sign can be as much of a deterrent as the security cameras.    My  sign says  simply (security cameras in use).

I really only bought the signs as a detergent, I currently have a 2 camera setup, one Battery powered cam in my carport and one camera on my property. Plus I now lock my scooter up and I just recently purchased a disk brake lock. I know it may be overkill but I Want a potential thief to know I mean business.

[klaviator]

What is it which weighs 900lbs?....do you have a scooter as well?
Stig

I also want to know what scooter weighs 900 pounds???

[Kansas kymco]

I also want to know what scooter weighs 900 pounds???

AK 550 with a 400 lb ridder?

[Stig / Major Tom]

I really only bought the signs as a detergent, I currently have a 2 camera setup, one Battery powered cam in my carport and one camera on my property. Plus I now lock my scooter up and I just recently purchased a disk brake lock. I know it may be overkill but I Want a potential thief to know I mean business.

I think the first tool thieves purchase is a 'hoodie' (for the camera), second is an angle grinder.for the locks and chains.
It can be disheartening in some neighborhoods.
Stig