California Tops List of Most Motorcycles Stolen

9 Sep 2014

California proves to be a risky place to have a motorcycle as it tops the list for the most motorcycles stolen.

California is not only at the top of the list for the most cars stolen, but recent reports show that The Golden State holds the top spot for the most motorcycles stolen as well.

In June 2014, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released the 2013 for motorcycle thefts in the U.S. Per the report, there were a total of 45,367 motorcycles stolen in 2013, which was down slightly from 46,601 in 2012.

Between 2007 and 2013, the total number of motorcycles stolen in the U.S. seems to be reducing dramatically, though between 2012 and 2013, there was only a 1.5 decrease. In 2007, there were 65,678 motorcycles stolen, followed by 64,492 in 2008, 56,093 in 2009, 49,791 in 2010, 46,667 in 2011, 46,061 in 2012 and 45,367 in 2013.

Aside from listing the total number of motorcycles stolen for the year, the NICB report also lists the manufacturer of the motorcycles stolen. Between 2012 and 2013, the same manufacturers appear on the top five spot and in the same order. They include American Honda Motor Co. Inc. at the top of the list with 8,557 motorcycles stolen, followed by Yamaha Motor Corporation, American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA, and Harley-Davidson, Inc.

Another similarity between 2012 and 2013 was the state that had the most motorcycles stolen. California again tops the list, followed by Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and Indiana. California has 6,637 motorcycles stolen in 2013, which was a 9.1 percent increase from 2012 when 6,082 motorcycles were stolen. Florida had 3,735 motorcycles stolen, Texas 3,407 motorcycles stolen, North Carolina 2,490 motorcycles stolen, and Indiana 2,199 motorcycles stolen.

The report also ranks the cities that had the most motorcycles stolen. While two of the top five cities are in California, they are not in the number one spot. New York City hails the not-so-coveted top spot of the list with 1,001 motorcycles stolen, followed by Las Vegas, San Diego, Indianapolis, and Los Angeles.

Due to the fact that many places in the U.S. have cold, rainy weather for several months out of the year, motorcycles are considered a seasonal transportation option. There were more thefts during the summer and the least amount in the winter. July and August were the most common months for motorcycles to be stolen, while February, December and March were the least common months for motorcycles to be stolen.

While California is at the top of this list, all motorcycle owners in the U.S., regardless of location, should be careful about where they put their motorcycle. Getting aGPS tracking device, like those available at LiveViewGPS in the event of a theft is recommended, similar to vehicles.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.