RECENT COMMENTS
Gustavo S. on Missing this fella? Updated!
Eric S. Huffstutler on New sidewalk at Clay and 26th Streets
Eric S. Huffstutler on Missing this fella? Updated!
Eric S. Huffstutler on Old water tower is coming down
Eric S. Huffstutler on then it happens to you...
Eric S. Huffstutler on What is up with the Church Hill Post Office?
Rash of overnight scooter thefts
07/14/2010 2:24 PM by John M
Scoot Richmond is reporting the theft of 3 scooters in the area last night: Genuine Buddy 50 Italia, 2 tone olive w whitewall tires, stolen from 25th St between Broad and Grace; Genuine Roughhouse 50, army green; Quinqi Happy 50, yellow w black checkers (taxicab sorta), from Princess Anne.
All three had the Great Big Chain cut in some manner. We have info that leads us to believe that there were 3 people involved, and they cut the lock, broke the steering locks, and hotwired the scooters without even bothering to move the scoot out of the view of humanity before hand. Unusual to see the thieves get that ballsy.
The person who parked their scooter on 25th Street was asking for it. Though 25th Street is heavily traveled during the day, it isn’t heavily traveled at night. I passed by it numerous times and thought it was an odd parking spot for a sccoter.
Sorry for the losses.
Generally speaking, we’ve found that parking your scooter in a visible spot is a good thing. Visibility is a wash in real life. While parking somewhere that is very visible is bad because it can make that particular vehicle a target for theft, it is simultaneously a deterrent because of the risk of being seen.
He was asking for it? Nobody is asking for getting their belongings stolen. Stop making people think it’s their fault. The only thing that person did wrong was own something someone else wanted. It was always chained up. Where are we supposed to keep things? It’s NewGuyOnTheHill’s take on things which really pisses me off. Move back to the fan.
I’m just saying…
25th street is a good spot to park it during the day and not a good spot to park it at night (especially on the St. John’s side of the street).
We can choose to tempt the fate of our belongings or realize we live in a community where theft of personal belongings is a reality and secure them in the best way possible.
…just my opionion OldGuyOnTheHill.
Sorry to hear about everyone’s bad luck. I’ve noticed the two-tone green scooter on 25th just because it was very visible on a main thoroughfare and often only locked thru the front wheel.
A few years ago friend of mine had his moped stolen from in front of his house in Oregon Hill protected by 2 u-locks and a cable lock. It seems like if a thief really wants it they are going to get it.
The best thing to do is making it less visible, and lock it well (thru rear wheel, shocks, etc.) with a serious lock. I highly recommend the Kryptonite brand fuggedaboutit series.
On a more promising note, I was pulled over on my moped in Fulton Hill the other day. The officer was on point. He pulled me while I was behind him! My purple maxi matched the description of a girl who had her moped stolen awhile back.
He also was aware of a blue maxi that had been spray painted red w/ “maxi” scribbled on the side. I guess both of us had confronted the kid, but couldn’t do anything because we didn’t know the real owner. I’ve never heard of a cop ever caring about a stolen scooter or moped, this officer is definitely giving the extra effort.
If the cops don’t find it I recommend http://www.seibertstowing.com or similar companies in town. One would be surprised how many stolen and abandoned scooters/ mopeds get auctioned there on a regular basis.
I’m not tryin’ to ruffle any feathers; I just thought I should put in my two cents. My moped club has kept a pretty good record for keeping our shit close, and if it does fall into the wrong hands getting it back.
Cheers,
Brett@Cyclus
Since it seems like you geniuses know what you are talking about- the scooter in question was never locked in the front wheel and always through the frame of the bike. The lock itself is actually better then the kyrptonite. Finally, where are you supposed to park it? Perhaps 1 mile away would be more convenient.
Thank you soo much for scoot richmond for reporting and recovering it!!
You got it back?
yep, again thanks to scoot richmond!! you guys are awesome!!
The Buddy 50 has been recovered thanks to our extended family of badass crime-fighting mofos.
The Roughhouse 50 and Happy 50 are still on the loose in the wild.
No need to get rude. Sorry, I thought i knew what I was talking about since I’ve never had moped stolen, and have a doctorate in security. Nothing is better than a krypto……. I’ve had both 14mm chains. I’m glad you got your scooter back “x.”
-Brett
Oh, and if their are any more definative features of the other two scooters still loose please post. I literally stare at Marshall street all day
-Brett
From what we know, the RH50 has no distinguishing features, aside from being pretty much, brand-spakin’ new. The Happy 50 is described as being yellow and black with a taxi cab/checkerboard motif, so it may be pretty identifiable if seen out in the wild.
As always, if you see any of these scooters, or see any suspicious scooter activity, call 911.
I saw the chain on the ground 25 and broad going down the hill to shocko bottom around 630ish this morning….i ride a moped everyday back in forth to work right over the mayo bridge…. i live right next to chimbo market and will keep an eye out for you….i have a couple moped and people around here always ask if im selling them or looking in my garage….i keep my complete mopeds in my house were my 3 dogs are so no one will come in here…..since these guys are always asking “where can i get them moped janks at” i will deff let you know and ill ask around….put some pis up of the scoots that are stolen….and CHAINS , CABLES AND LOCKS ONLY KEEP HONEST PEOPLE OUT……if some one whats something that bad nothing will stop them….and there plenty of them aroun CH….GOOD LUCK!!
I’m the owner of the Roughhouse 50cc. I’ve already met with a detective and with the good folks at ScootRichmond today. I’ve also taken about three carrides through the Q-M street area, but to no avail.
If anybody sees a green Roughhouse, please let me know (metblack85@gmail.com). I will be rewarding anyone who gives me info that leads to its return.
I used an OnGuard heavyduty chain and lock, and locked it through the brakes on the left-front (as I was instructed to do). These guys are using portable hydraulic bolt cutters. There are at least 4 of them, and we got video surveillance of them in the act. Unfortunately, no license plate or easily identified faces.
i just got woken up at 1100pm by the cops
Roughouse: found
2 idiot pieces of shit riding it: in jail!
I’ll be getting my busted up moped back tomorrow!
I don’t know how it was found yet, will post more later!
Schuyler
That’s awesome, at least that you’ve gotten that much so quickly & that 2 of the 3 stolen scooters are accounted for in less than 24 hours.
Agreed with John M, awesome, 2 out of 3 recovered! I’ve been following this story off and on today, and I’m really impressed – with ScootRichmond, and with the cops described as looking out for stolen mopeds! Hope the third one is recovered soon!
Schuyler! So glad the scoot has been recovered, one thing that has, I’m sure, become oh so apparent is that us scooter folk look out for our own. See you over at Scoot tomorrow, and hopefully the damages are minimal. Congrats again on the recovery, I wish I had been as lucky when my scoot was stolen back in April.
Was just driving down Cowardin and stopped at Semmes only to see the RH50 on the flat bed truck next to me. Looks to be in okay shape. Hopefully nothing too serious is goin’ on, and you can get back on the road pretty soon. Man, what a day!
Good news for Sky and Iz! Now you can get back to work …and stop being depressed. 🙂 Honey’s is happy!
I do hope the third one is recovered soon.
It was the Quinqi Happy 50, yellow w black checkers (taxicab sorta), from Princess Anne?
Does anyone have a photo of that exact make an model they could put online and add to this news story?
I’ll post more details after I speak with the cops again.
hey schuyler i spotted your chain on the way to work again this time i picked it up its not totally destroyed….if you wanted back i emailed you with my number….i can drop it off after work or you can pick it up i work close by
Fantastic news!!
What is most interesting to me is the comment that these scooters are being auctioned, publicly. Last I heard, Fencing stolen goods was illegal. I would like to hear what the police are doing about that!
I commented some time ago that if there was no “secondary market” for these items, they would stop stealing them. That seems like a good place to start.
Seibert’s is infamous for this. I know of at least 3 people, personally, that this has happened to, none of whom were actually notified by Siebert’s that their bike had been brought to impound. When my bike was stolen in April, I even had a Richmond police officer advise me to use a different impound lot if possible, because Siebert’s was a “bunch of money hungry thieves.” It is something that is unfortunate and quite illegal. I suppose the more attention that can be brought to this matter, the better…
Sieberts, the best thing to do when ur bike is stolen is to call their auction number (available on their website) right away and tell them to keep an eye out for your exact make and model.
It was annoying they charged me $75 towing fee when I went to pick up my raped and battered bike.
Schuyler
I had my house broken into a few years back. The guy was caught the next day. I’ve wondered ever since if there was a way to hit the arrestee up for related costs, like replacing the window that he broke and replacing the stolen items. Seems like there should be a way to get your money back from the kids that were caught with the scooter.
i wish. im probably looking at 1000 in damages, minimum
If the police seemingly know about this and do nothing, that’s condoning it. Seibert’s should be investigated if they’re buying vehicles with no title.
I emailed Mark Holmberg the link to this thread. I hope they shine a light on it.
There is a like new Happy 50 (yellow w/ checkerboards) parked on the side walk @ 516 N 26th Street. I saw it @ 3:15pm Thursday 7/15 while walking to the post office…may want to check it out…
thanks for the tip, astronut. I just contacted the owner of that stolen scoot and she’s going to check it out.
and thanks to EVERYONE for pulling together!
If you have renters or homeowner’s insurance, it will cover a lot of those related costs. I know I was reimbursed for a broken window after theft. However, they never caught the thief, so I am not sure it he or she would have been held responsible.
And, my homeowners insurance also covers break-ins for my car (although, I doubt it covers the theft of my car). However, I have never a file a claim for this, so I am not sure how it would be handled.
I saw a yellow scooter matching the description on the 900 block of 24th just a few minutes ago
Homeowner’s insurance and renter’s insurance will only cover costs related to things damaged or stolen in the home, not to things like scooters that are stolen from the lot of a home. Best thing is to get actual scooter insurance which is now being offered through most insurance companies.
I have an expired (april) motorcycle tag I found in the alley behind my house this week. Could be a scooter if any of these are of a size to require plates. I’ll get it to RPD later this week unless anyone has scooter returned with no plate. Post here and we can get in touch
I had my car towed by Siebert’s a few weeks ago and was charged $120 and to find that they charge &75 for a scooter is ridiculous!! Who comes up with these figures?? And, yes, I totally agree that they should be investigated if they are selling vehicles with no titles. I was glad to hear Schuyler’s scooter was located, with the kids still on it…now they can sit in jail for a while – hopefully for a long while for the grief they’ve caused!!
ABC News (Channel 8) aired a segment about the recent rash of scooter thefts last night. Did anybody catch it??
Their advice:
Out of sight, out of mind…the thieves we’re dealing with have found ways to cut through anything.
anyone find a video segment of the news report?
I used to deal with an impound lot in a different city. Their contract should spell out how much they can charge and how long they must keep the vehicles before selling.
Wait, what? This outfit is receiving stolen goods and then charging people a “towing fee” to retrieve their stolen property? If someone fenced the scooter there, they wouldn’t have had to tow it, right? And that they are able to return the property to its rightful owner means that they would be avoiding a receiving stolen property rap – you’re doing them a favor!
I don’t see how it’s not possible to stop such outright theft. What I would do in that situation, if they refused to release it for free, would be to pay the fee and then immediately file suit to recover it. That $75 fee is nothing more than extortion, so you cannot be held to any implicit contract by paying it.
Actually, most renter’s or homeowner insurance policies DO cover property that is on the lot, like patio furniture or grills. I am not sure about scooters, or other motorized vehicles, although I know my insurer does cover lawn mowers stored in a shed on my property, as I had to file a claim for one.
I would check it – it would be silly to buy another policy just for the scooter if it is indeed covered.
My mother had her brand new yellow Qingqui Happy 50 stolen early this morning. We of course promptly filed a police report. We live near Warwick/Carnation & Midlothian. The last digits of the VIN is 3107. I’ve already requested Scoot Richmond to add it to their list.
Please email blurglegurble@gmail if you have any info. Thanks!
Who gives a fudge about a scooter when there is a free couch at 28th & broad?
/2010/07/15/free-couch_14452/
There is a new, green motor bike parked between 409 & 411 N 31st St. It is in the rear of the yard at 411. There is no license plate. I called the police, but they did nothing.
There is a way to get your money back IF the police catch the thief (thieves). If the amount is fairly small, you won’t need an attorney, and you take him/her/them to small claims court (go down to the General District Court to file). It does cost to file, but just ask which line of the form to write in the cost of the filing fee. So, you are adding the filing fee to the suit.
Then, you are required to send a certified letter to the other party, notifying him/her/them of the suit, and court date. If the other party (ies) does not show, you are automatically granted the suit, and the court will attempt to track them down and garnish the wages. There is a risk; however, if the other party cannot be located for a long period of time.
the trouble is getting the detective to call me back. since we saw him initially to give him evidence, he hasn’t returned a single message. as a result, i have no idea who the guilty parties that they caught are
A detective not call you back when you report a crime??? Shocking!
RE: “and the court will attempt to track them down and garnish the wages.”
Honestly, what is the likelihood of these upstanding members of society having a job?