Grand theft scooter

People have been sending me the link all morning, but if you haven’t seen CBS4 Denver’s story about scooter theft, here it is.

I would offer a few caveats, however.

The reporter’s statement about scooters weighing an “average of 175 lbs” would come as a surprise, not only to the owner of a Vespa GTS (325 lbs dry, minus accessories), but also to a perp who tries to make off with a Vespa GTS after seeing this report. The bike that got boosted was a Schwinn, apparently painted metallic pink.

When I got my first scooter, there were lots of stories of old-skool Vespas being stolen, then ditched in alleys because the thieves couldn’t figure out how to start them. The underground garage in my former residence was broken into regularly and often, but my ET4 was never disturbed.

Cops have told me the blinky red LED on modern Vespas is in fact a deterrent, even though it’s not an indicator of an alarm, but that the ignition immobilizer is working.

A cover is also known to be a deterrent to theft, but there’s the matter of what to do with a soaking wet one (hey, did you know it rains in Seattle?).

A distinctive look may not deter theft, but it’ll sure make your bike easier to find. Day-glo chartreuse is a color a smart thief would avoid, but then people usually turn to crime because they lack the native intelligence for anything else.

Where you park can repel thieves, too. I don’t get a garage with the new place, so the PX is getting used to life on the street. But in this case, the street is California Avenue SW, West Seattle’s north-south main drag. There’s lots of traffic, all day, all night. Heck, lots of police cars. I’m lucky enough to be able to park directly under a streetlight, so anyone who has ideas about boosting the PX will be putting on a show for everyone to see. Thieves don’t like that. You’ll notice the Schwinn got nicked in a place that looks like a lightly-trafficked side street. In fact the owner of the scooter said her husband had installed several video cameras on the outside of their house because of previous thefts of other property.

The reporter makes a good point about property theft being a crime of opportunity, and while it has been said many times, many ways, someone who wants your vehicle badly enough will find a way to get it, things like covers, cables, alarms and related items will make your bike (or car) a more difficult target. Thieves will usually look for something easier.

Still, I have kept the collision/comprehensive coverage required when I was financing the PX, mainly because it’s so cheap. And I can keep an eye on it from my living room window…

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