This was posted on another forum (GTA Motorcycles) and I am not sure if this has been posted, but it is a good article written by a former theif (not me). For anyone who has been thinking about buying a security device for their bike, this may provide some valuable insight.


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Motorcycle theft: The operation


Introduction:
Let me introduce myself. I am a former motorcycle thief. Since I have paid for my crimes and started a new life, I now have full intentions on preventing motorcycle theft with the knowledge I have. I have met many victims that I have effected and found that it has a very deep impact on a person to see that their motorcycle stolen. So with all that being said, I urge you to read and learn.


Targeted Motorcycles:
Granted all motorcycles are and can be a target for a thief. You must consider this. What brings in the most money? Yes a Harley Davidson is a motorcycle that is worth a lot of money. However, 90% of Harley owners tend to personalize their motorcycle. Therefore they know what their motorcycle looks like and even know each custom part they installed on it. So why would a thief in it for the money want to risk stealing a motorcycle that can easily be spotted in a resale (Either in parts or whole). Dirt bikes. Yes dirt bikes do get stolen. Lets face it they are very easy to steal. Most don't even need a key. Chock it kick it and you are gone! So if a dirt bike is stolen it most likely is still in one piece being ridden around on some country farm or out in the hood. This leaves one style of motorcycle left. Sportbikes. They are light, easy to tear down, 1000s of the same make, color, and model are sold each year, very easy to resell. If you go on the H.E.A.T web site Prevent Auto Theft - Car Theft Prevention - Help Eliminate Auto Theft - H.E.A.T. and look at the list of most common motorcycles stolen, go ahead and laugh at it. Why do I say that? Because most of the motorcycles listed on there are not worth a dime on the black market. Here is an up dated list of motorcycles that would be target by a thief in it for personal gain. There is a five year window in which sport bikes have no value to a thief, however there are some exceptions.

2004 + GSXR 600/750
2005 + GSXR 1000
1999 + GSXR 1300
2001 + CBR F4I'S
2003 + CBR 600RR'S
2004 + CBR 1000RR'S
2000/2001 929
2002/2003 954
2003 + 636
2007 + ZX6
2004 + ZX10
ZX 14'S
2003 + R6 (most common sportbike on the road today)
2004 + R1


Now as you can see they are all high end sportbikes. Well of course they are that is what a thief targets.


The aftermath once your motorcycle is stolen:


I am sure that most wonder were there motorcycle ends up. It is fairly simple. It can only be in a certain number of places.

1. You might have even seen it being ridden around right after it has been stolen. Joyriders tend to do that and have no interest in money. They simply get a thrill out of it then they ditch it somewhere.

1. In a chop shop. It take less than 30 minutes to completely tear down a bike with standard tools. Box every thing up and conceal it.

1. At a track. Lets face it, racing is expensive and bikes and parts are highly needed all the time.

1. In a stunt riders garage. Stunt riders have a an overly bad reputation for this sort of thing however in my days all forums of riders knowingly bought stolen parts or whole motorcycles.



It ALWAYS ends up where the most money can be made! It all depends on the market of that particular bike. For instance, if it is beyond that five year mark if most likely cannot be sold whole and is more valuable in parts. If it is sold in parts, the parts end up on Ebay, forums, craigslist, ETC. If a motorcycle is sold whole, it has most likely been reworked to pose as a clean untraceable motorcycle. However, that is to the normal eye. A good thief in it for the big money will buy a frame and title on ebay and resell it to an unsuspecting buyer for full blue book value.

How motorcycles are targeted:

The hardest thing for a thief is locating the motorcycle they need or one that is worth stealing. Here are ways that a thief can easily locate a motorcycle to steal.

1. Craigslist. By simply acting as a legit buyer a thief will email you get your address even show up as a legit buyer all the while he is casing the place to decide if it is worth stealing your motorcycle. Most people put pictures of there motorcycle on craigslist with a full view of the land scope were a thief can clearly see that it is in a parking space and not a home garage, or even better for the thief if it is in a parking garage

2. Cycle trader is the same as craigslist.

3. By driving around. If you see the same vehicle pacing your neighborhood and slowing down at your residence, they are probably casing out your bike.

Thieves tend to steal from these types of locations where motorcycles would be located.

1. Apartment buildings
2. Malls
3. Parking garages, even one while you are at work.
4. Town house developments without garages.
5. Big parking lots that are filled with cars.


Buyer protection:

I can not stress this enough. When you go buy a motorcycle, always ask questions and read the persons responses and expressions.

Is this the original motor?
Is this the original frame?
Are you the original owner?

They seem like strange questions but those are the last questions a thief wants to have to answer. Most people are uninformed and these questions would raise big red flags to a thief selling a stolen motorcycle.

Then look at the title very carefully. Ask the seller for ID to see if he is the true owner of the bike. Cross reference the VIN# on the title to the VIN# on the frame and frame sticker. If there is no VIN sticker ASK WHY! In the end if you decide that it is a legit sale you should still take it down to the local police station have it looked over just to be sure.

Theft prevention:

This is that part that matters the most. Ask your self right now what will stop a thief? The answer is very few things will stop a thief that wants your motorcycle. If he wants he will get it. With in reason that is.

Daytime:

Most people have this misconception that a thief only works at night, WRONG! Thieves work 24/7.
Here is a scenario

You are sitting at a table in side of a restaurant. You see a motorcycle in the parking lot. You don't know who owns it you, you never saw a rider get off of it. Now you see a guy wearing a jacket and carrying a helmet walk up to the bike and push it off or even roll it on a truck. You are going to probably say to yourself that his bike probably broke down when in fact a motorcycle was just stolen in broad daylight.

That is only one way motorcycles get stolen. It takes less than 30 seconds to lift a motorcycle on the back of a truck or roll it into a trailer or a van.

Night time:

Most thieves would rather work at night. The times a motorcycle is most likely to get stolen is on a rainy or windy night when noise is no issue to a thief. Most people inside a house tend to say it is probably the wind or rain.

Theft deterrents: Do they work?

1. Disk locks: NO. they can easily be over powered by simply unloosening the rotor bolts or simply lifting the bike onto a truck.

1. Disk locks with alarms: NO. it is as simple as carefully sticking a piece of chewing gum over the sound outlet and it muffles the sound about 85%.

1. Cow chains with a simple home depot lock: NO. a pair of bolt cutters can snap right through a chain.

1. The factory steering lock: NO. a little leverage and it will pop. Most are only made of cast materials.

1. Lowjack: Yes however you have to report your motorcycle right after it has been stolen. If a thief knows anything about lowjack that is the first thing he will look for. Once it is found and tossed it is useless.

1. GPS tracking: GPS traces every step of where your motorcycle has been, so it is much more effective than lowjack. Unless it has been found before it makes it to a chop shop. Again, once it is found it is useless.

1. Alarms: An alarm is the most effective theft deterrent money can buy for a motorcycle. If a thief is messing around with your motorcycle and an alarm goes off, he will most likely turn tail and bolt. You simply cannot stop a motorcycle alarm quick enough not to be noticed. Here are some links to a alarm that WORKS! Scorpio Alarms » Home or find an alarm that is similar and works well.

By far the best defense is always a garage with an alarm on your bike.

Well I hope this gives you some insight into the mind of a motorcycle thief. There will always be motorcycle thieves out there. Even if one gets busted there is another that sadly takes his place. Use the insight I have given you to prevent being a victim of motorcycle theft.

An interesting read.   

I've always been kind of scared about motorcycle theft, and didnt think an alarm would help, because car alarms go off all the time and no one takes a second look. 

The one reason I dont have an alarm on my bike now is the sensitivity on these is too high from what I've seen, a little wind, or even vibrations from another motorcycle's exhaust will set them off.

So here's my question:  From personal experience, what alarms have good/adjustable/lower sensitivity?

Does anyone know how often a GS500 gets stolen?

-Porkchop

So...

Motorcycles thieves prefer to steal late model sport bikes that are left out in the open at night.

Who would have guessed...

I prefer the "GS500 that just barely looks ridable parked next to the newest gsxr1000" security system. 

Good article I'll have to keep that info in mind.

Sounds like I should be parking my bike in my living room.
I've started parking my bike on an extremely steep hill. This makes picking it up or rolling it almost impossible. That plus a cover and the fact that it is a GS500 and I don't worry much about theft.

Quote from: PachmanP on August 14, 2009, 06:19:31 PM
I prefer the "GS500 that just barely looks ridable parked next to the newest gsxr1000" security system. 

+1

My insurance Co asked only if I had a Lock. Based on this I determine THEY figure a Lock is a major deterrent to bike theft and gives lower premiums.

As for alarms, there is this from Australia http://ignitoralarms.com.au/index.html whose main fault is that it's totally ignition based - screwdriver in the ignition to act as key and the alarm is useless.

Michael

That's why I'm happy I can park my bike inside my basement. It's a hassle to get it in and out as the mirrors are technically wider than the door, but it works. Someday I'm going to get some nice folding bar end mirrors, but I want to wait until Heather is comfortable enough that dropping it is rare, because I don't want to replace one of those mirrors every time she might drop the bike. Eventually I would like to put an anchor or two in the floor, but not until I have something nicer than a 91GS to tie down to it.

how many people have had their GS500 stolen....over the years of this site...(12-14 yrs)

the GS is a theft deterrant