NICB: Motorcycle Thefts Still Declining, but Trend is Leveling Off

Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki Are Top Stolen Brands

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Jun 09, 2014, 06:00 ET

DES PLAINES, Ill., June 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) today released a report on motorcycle thefts in the United States for 2013. A total of 45,367 motorcycles were reported stolen in 2013 compared with 46,601 reported stolen in 2012—a decrease of 1.5 percent.

Since 2008, annual motorcycle thefts have seen significant decreases, but that trend appears to be leveling off. The following graph shows the trend using 2007 thefts as the baseline number:

Year	Thefts	Difference from previous year	Percent change
2007	65,678
2008	64,492	1,186	-1.8
2009	56,093	8,399	-13.0
2010	49,791	6,302	-11.2
2011	46,667	3,124	- 6.3
2012	46,061	606	-1.3
2013	45,367	694	-1.5

The report is based on National Crime Information Center (NCIC) motorcycle theft data for 2013. The complete report can be viewed here and a graphic here.

The following graph shows the top five manufacturers in 2012 and 2013 whose motorcycles were reported stolen. Their ranking remained the same:

Rank	Manufacturer	2013	2012	Percent change
1	American Honda Motor Co., Inc	8,557	9,082	-5.8
2	Yamaha Motor Corporation	7,038	7,517	-6.4
3	American Suzuki Motor Corporation	6,378	7,017	-9.1
4	Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.	4,736	4,839	-2.1
5	Harley-Davidson, Inc.	3,907	3,755	+4.0

The top five states were in the same order as in last year's report with California and Texas posting increases:

Rank	State	2013	2012	Percent change
1	California	6,637	6,082	+9.1
2	Florida	3,735	4,110	-9.1
3	Texas	3,407	3,400	+0.2
4	North Carolina	2,490	2,574	-3.3
5	Indiana	2,199	2,334	-5.8

When ranking the top five cities, the top four are identical to last year's report. In fifth place this year, however, is Los Angeles replacing Miami:

Rank	City	2013	2012	Percent change
1	New York	1,001	903	+10.9
2	Las Vegas	899	757	+18.8
3	San Diego	700	633	+10.6
4	Indianapolis	576	584	-1.4
5	Los Angeles	545	514	+6.0

Motorcycles are generally a seasonal mode of transportation making them most susceptible to thefts during mild times of the year. Most thefts occurred during the summer months and the fewest during the winter. July had the highest number of reported thefts in 2013 with 5,360. August was next with 5,288 followed by September with 4,793. The fewest thefts were reported in February with 2,124 followed by December with 2,546 and March with 2,674.

View and download our motorcycle theft prevention brochure for more useful information.

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422), texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or submitting a form on our website. Or, download the NICB Fraud Tips app on your iPhone or Android device.

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 $371 billion in insurance premiums in 2013, or more than 78 percent of the nation's property/casualty insurance. That includes more than 93 percent ($168 billion) of the nation's personal auto insurance. To learn more visit www.nicb.org.

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau