Wallyhood reader Cindy posted to our crime forum recently to report that her husband’s motorcycle had been stolen. 
Though it has since been recovered — albeit in damaged condition — she took the time to write the following story for us, and offers these tips for protecting your own motorcycle.
At the bottom of this article is a picture of both stolen cars and motorcycles in Wallingford in the month of November 2016 generated from the Seattle Police crime data website. (I’ve excluded thefts from within vehicles.) At least 6-7 are motorcycle thefts or attempts. Most folks know/realize standard precautions for protecting their car. However, I think some motorcycle and scooter riders should/can be more diligent, including me.
My motorcycle used to be stored, mostly out of sight and under a cover, with only one security measure (ignition lock). Today, I now have four forms of protection (for a cost of about $200, which is a lot cheaper than replacing the entire motorcycle). It has an alarm wheel-disc lock on one wheel, a standard disc lock on the other wheel, a chain so that it’s physically attached to a heavy and bulky object on my property, and the ignition lock (standard on most bikes. FYI – A wheel lock integrated into the ignition of a motorcycle or scooter can be overridden by gouging out the ignition cylinder. Someone on my street learned that this last week, when his motorcycle had its ignition cylinder gouged out and his entire motorcycle taken from his carport.
Also, in past years, thieves have traveled in groups and lifted motorcycles and scooters into moving vans or conversion vans, per Kiro 7 and Seattle police.
That said, I’d urge you to consider the following device(s):
- Xena Security’s Disc-Lock Alarm.
- It’s a Lock … A high-grade steel mono-block body and 6mm pushdown-locking, hardened-steel pin give the XZZ Series XENA’s broadest fit profile.
- And an Alarm. Shock & motion sensors trigger a piercing 120dB anti-theft alarm powered by a single CR2 long-life Lithium battery.
- It’s a Lock … A high-grade steel mono-block body and 6mm pushdown-locking, hardened-steel pin give the XZZ Series XENA’s broadest fit profile.
- XENA XC14 maximum security 14mm link inert-gas hardened chains come in three lengths: 110cm (3.5ft), 170cm (5.5ft), and 200cm (6.5ft)
- The World’s Strongest U-Lock – All XENA XSU Series U-Locks locks are constructed from high-grade stainless steel. Quality materials, top-notch design and rugged build-quality make XENA locks highly resistant to the elements for years of use in top condition.
Disclaimer: I am not in the business of motorcycle sales, parts, etc…This is simply the brand that I researched and decided was the best bet for my money. Triumph of Seattle on Hwy 99 sells this brand.
Nope, no crime problem here!
For several weeks, there was the remnants of a scooter on the planting strip under the freeway. This is across from where the goats were this summer. The scooter had been stripped of its shell. You could barely tell it was a scooter. No handles or steering wheel detectable. It’s a very strange world we live in where this is the norm. And the fact that John Stanford Elementary is only yards away. Our children are learning this as normal.
Clintonland values: Destroy a person’s car if their car alarm wakes you. “How do you know it was a Democrat who did it, Samsambo?!?.” Because, dumbass, Wallingford is 99.9% Democrats.