Enjoy the Ride, But Be Aware of Motorcycle Theft

As anticipation builds for The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, an annual gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts, riders are being urged to exercise heightened caution before hitting the roads.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has sounded the alarm following a disconcerting 7 percent surge in motorcycle thefts from 2021 to 2022, marking yet another year of escalating theft incidents as revealed in the NICB’s recently released 2022 Vehicle Type Theft Report.

Throughout 2022, an alarming average of 4,561 motorcycles were reported stolen each month. The statistics reveal a steady upward trajectory in thefts, commencing at a low point of 2,879 in February and reaching a zenith in July at 6,394 cases. Notably, the warmer months from May through October saw motorcycle thefts surpassing the established monthly average.

The state of California emerged as the epicenter of motorcycle thefts, recording a staggering 9,838 stolen motorcycles in 2022, constituting a substantial 30 percent of the nationwide total.