How Often Are Motorcycles Stolen?
According to the NICB’s annual motorcycle theft report for 2019, Florida is the state with the second-highest rate of motorcycle thefts in the country after only California. Last year, 4,085 motorcycle thefts were reported in Florida, down from the 4,279 recorded the year before. In total, 40,380 motorcycle thefts were reported across the country.
What Motorcycle Makes Are Most Likely To Get Stolen?
By make, the bikes that are most likely to be stolen are manufactured by:
- Honda
- Yamaha
- Harley Davidson
- Suzuki
- Kawasaki
The type of motorcycle that was stolen most frequently in 2019 is made by American Honda Motor Company, with over 8,000 taken last year alone.
Tips on Keeping Your Bike Safe
So, how do you prevent this from happening to you? Luckily, the NICB report came with some motorcycle theft prevention tips, including:
- Park safely and mindfully—always stick to well-lit areas, lock your ignition, and remove your keys.
- When you park your bike, always lock your motorcycle and remove its key—even if in a garage. You may also want to consider investing in additional aftermarket locks and/or a theft-deterrent system with GPS tracking capabilities.
- If you can, custom paint your bike, put stickers on it, or place other unique markings on your motorcycle. In the unfortunate event your bike is stolen, you can use these images and markings to help identify your motorcycle.
- When you are on the market for a new motorcycle, take it to a local dealership or trusted mechanic for a thorough inspection before purchasing.
- Purchase motorcycles only from reputable manufacturers or dealers. If you do buy a bike from a private seller, avoid ones that are “custom” or “assembled.”
- If you purchase a motorcycle from a private party, get a vehicle history report of the bike first. Also, make the transaction at your local law enforcement station as many of them have "safe areas" for private parties to complete purchases.
- If you sell your bike, never turn over the vehicle’s title until the funds have cleared the bank.
- Never store your vehicle’s title in your motorcycle’s storage compartment—keep it in a safe, secure place at home or elsewhere.
There is a silver lining here—of the 40,000 plus motorcycles nabbed in 2019, 18,857—about 46%—have been recovered as of this writing. Remember to take pictures of your motorcycle if you’re a bike owner so if yours gets stolen you have a visual to show to the police when you file a report. This will make it easier for your bike to be found and returned if stolen.
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