National Motorcycle Thefts Down 24 Percent Since 2007

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Sep 21, 2011, 06:00 ET

As With Passenger Cars, Thieves Prefer Honda Cycles

DES PLAINES, Ill., Sept. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau today reported that in 2010, motorcycle thefts were down 24 percent from their 2007 total. There were 65,678 motorcycles reported stolen in 2007 compared with 49,791 in 2010—a decline of 24 percent. All data is from theft reports contained in the National Crime Information Center.

The top five makes stolen last year were: (1) Honda, 12,260; (2) Yamaha, 9,853; (3) Suzuki, 7,869; (4) Kawasaki, 5,470; and (5) Harley-Davidson, 3,301. Combined, these five brands accounted for 38,753 thefts in 2010, or 77.8 percent of the total.

For 2010, the top five states with the most motorcycle thefts were: (1) California, 5,662; (2) Texas, 4,394; (3) Florida, 4,148; (4) North Carolina, 2,649; and (5) Indiana, 1,925. These five states accounted for 18,778 thefts, or 37.7 percent of the total.

While overall thefts are down, reflecting the continuing decline in thefts of passenger vehicles and light trucks, so, too, are motorcycle sales. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales between 2009 (520,502 units) and 2010 (439,678 units) were down 16 percent.

Not surprising, in 2010, the summer months of July (5,714) and August (5,380) saw the most theft activity. The fewest thefts were recorded during the months of February (2,403) and December (2,763). Over the entire period covered by this report, 2007-2010, July recorded the most thefts (26,352) while the fewest occurred in December (13,944).

The complete motorcycle theft report is available here.

Consumers can visit the NICB web site and review our library of valuable theft and fraud awareness information, including tips on preventing motorcycle theft and fraud. It's free and it just might help prevent you from falling victim to theft or fraud scams.

About the National Insurance Crime Bureau: headquartered in Des Plaines, Ill., the NICB is the nation's leading not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness. The NICB is supported by more than 1,100 property and casualty insurance companies and self-insured organizations. NICB member companies wrote over $317 billion in insurance premiums in 2010, or approximately 80 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 93 percent ($151 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau