Florida - Motorcycle theft capital of the world?

[Clovis]

Is it just me, or does anyone else see A LOT of motorcycle theft stories coming out of Florida?

Recently:

Three Southwest Florida Residents Sentenced in Separate Lee County Cases (2 motorcycle theft, 1 dump truck theft ring)

http://myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/EF6E0E66D69B56ED8525743C004B6654

"Another South FL Stolen Bike"

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=211150&highlight=florida+theft+thieves

"FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Several men accused of stealing motorcycles in South Florida have been arrested as the result of a yearlong investigation."

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173248&highlight=florida+theft+thieves

"my bike has been stolen....AGAIN"

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140711&highlight=florida+theft+thieves

"Unbelievable THEIVES!!! (Florida) Must Read!"

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155104&highlight=florida+theft+thieves

"Miami area Bike Thieves - THE WALL OF SHAME !!!"

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132268&highlight=florida+theft+thieves

And it just goes on and on and on... Florida's weather is nice but when I read the story about the guy who rode his bike to Florida where it was stolen infront of his motel/hotel room on Vacation, I pretty much crossed this state off from my list of "States to tour in".

"Bike Stolen while on Vacation........"

http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=214774&highlight=Florida+motel+hotel+stolen+tourist+thiev es

Speaking of which, who has a Scorpio motorcycle alarm? I've read good things and I'm seriously considering picking one up now. Having your bike stolen sucks but having it stolen while on vacation, leaving you stranded is beyond the pale!

-Clovis

[VFR]

I lived there for 3 years and YEP....I can believe it. Good friend had his CBR's stolen (2) another caught theives taking the cover off his gixxer getting ready to hitch it up. Another went in Walmart with a bike, came out without one....

This was in Tampa. They had 3 motorcycle theif ring bust while I was there (basically one a year) with Miami being the theft capital because of all the hack shops

Daytona is a bike thiefs dream day

[Rednarb]

I don't know much about FL, but I was just in the Orlando and Cocoa Beach area last week and I just can't see why anyone there would even want to ride. It's flat, boring, hot, muggy, and most of the year the bugs are so bad you have to carry a squeegee for your face shield. Oh, and it rains frequently and unpredictably. FL has to be one of the worst riding states IMHO.

What does this have to do with the OP? Florida, and that's about it. Sorry...

[VFR]

I don't know much about FL, but I was just in the Orlando and Cocoa Beach area last week and I just can't see why anyone there would even want to ride. It's flat, boring, hot, muggy, and most of the year the bugs are so bad you have to carry a squeegee for your face shield. Oh, and it rains frequently and unpredictably. FL has to be one of the worst riding states IMHO.

What does this have to do with the OP? Florida, and that's about it. Sorry...


People make up for the straight roads by going to Jennings, Miller, and Daytona for track days. You are right on all accounts people like it just for the fact they can ride (there are a few twistyish roads there, but are highly POPO patrolled). It is a love hate relationship with Florida but if you are on the east closer to the Georgia border that is not bad at all. Mid state is brutally hot and causes you to hallucinate in traffic from fumes, heat, humidity, and your jacket creating a mini sauna on your body. It is also Squid Capital USA along with California.

[Tipys]

I have an Scorpio alarm on my 650 works pretty good when i use it. Bike makes nosie while the remote goes off in your pocket if your with in about a mile or so.

[Filo]

From Progressive Insurance - Metro area with highest likelyhood of haveing a motorcycle stolen, with rank of population.

Table is rank, city, state, likelyhood (100=average), population rank

Metro Area Likelihood vs. National Average of 100 Population Rank
1.Honolulu, Hawaii 428 53
2.Miami, Fla.359 22
3.San Diego, Calif.277 15
4.Las Vegas, Nev.249 35
5.New York, N.Y.-N.J.247 1
6.Washington, DC-Md.-Va.242 8
7.Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif.233 2
8.Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Fla.229 29
9.New Orleans, La.228 41
10.Norfolk-Virginia Beach-Portsmouth, Va.-N.C.226 47

Florida gets on there twice as does California.

[ChrisCBX]

A few years ago, there was an investigative story (Dateline?) about motorcycle thefts in Florida. A news crew travelled with a police task force that was targeting motorcycle thieves. They used a bait bike Harley to catch a major bike thief. The cops said that this guy could steal a bike in "6 seconds". I can't believe with all of the current technology that is available, that bikes are still so easy to steal. I would think that insurance companies would be pushing manufacturers to do something.

On another note..............
where do all of the stolen bikes/parts go? Is there really that big of a market for stolen parts?

[devon]

Friend of mine had his R1 stolen from in front of his place in North Pole, Alaska. So I suppose it doesn't matter where you are. I think this just makes me want motorcycle parking to be legally required at parking lots (to keep the bikes closer to the front doors of the establishment and thus more visible/protected). Anything that keeps people from riding (including increased risk of theft) takes us back a step in acceptance of motorcycles and scooters as viable transportation in the States.

[Sortarican]

That's why I only ride ugly, dirty, old bikes.
Somone's bound to have a nicer one near by.
(Never be the fattest one at the watering hole when the lions are hungry.)


.... FL has to be one of the worst states....

^ Fixed it for you.

[DARK ANGEL]

my kx500 was stolen out of my front porch at my apartment and they were nice enough to put the ramp back in its place....whoever stole i hope is dead from riding it...it wasnt a toy..

[DARK ANGEL]

I don't know much about FL, but I was just in the Orlando and Cocoa Beach area last week and I just can't see why anyone there would even want to ride. It's flat, boring, hot, muggy, and most of the year the bugs are so bad you have to carry a squeegee for your face shield. Oh, and it rains frequently and unpredictably. FL has to be one of the worst riding states IMHO.

What does this have to do with the OP? Florida, and that's about it. Sorry...

after living there for most of 20 years out of my life since i was a child, i have ridden most every good twistie road there is. They arent too bad but they are far and few between, the ones i know arent patrolled.. the only nice thing about florida is the year round riding... yes the heat/humidity do suck balls and the bugs.... but hey im in COLORADO NOW WOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!

[Stuart Little]

The cops said that this guy could steal a bike in "6 seconds". I can't believe with all of the current technology that is available, that bikes are still so easy to steal. I would think that insurance companies would be pushing manufacturers to do something.

I can't start my own bike in 6 seconds!!

[ChrisCBX]

I can't start my own bike in 6 seconds!!


Mine won't either but then most of mine are firing 6 cylinders.:)

[Libby317]

What is it about Florida!

Check out the latest Sunshine State motorbike theft news horror story from WESH News in Orlando -- this time they're blaming gas prices!

http://www.wesh.com/news/16766715/detail.html

In the clip, the Arlen Ness dealer demonstrates a XENA (http://www.xenasecurity.com) disc-lock alarm, better than the Scorpion cause it works as a lock and an alarm and self arms; two systems in one... and it reminds you not to ride away with the disc-lock in place.

[pilot]

Thieves are going to steal what is easier. But, nothing is foolproof.