Thieves ride away with mopeds across city | News

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT)- They're small, economical , and apparently very easy to steal! Thieves are riding away with mopeds across Richmond. One of the main reasons is that scooters are incredible gas-savers, some getting up to 120 miles per gallon. With gas inching closer to $4 a gallon, mopeds are becoming the alternative for many drivers- and thieves.

Moped theft is up 147 percent in Richmond, according to Richmond police. Seventy-nine bikes were swiped since the beginning of the year, 20 on the Southside alone. In fact, five mopeds were stolen last week in the Southside.

J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College student Alex Martin scoots to school on two wheels. In fact, the moped he owns now is his third bike.

"I had two of them stolen," said Martin.

Martin says his first and second mopeds were snatched because he didn't have them locked up.

"I had been parking it by my house, and I wasn't locking it up because I had no problem with it...I woke up in the morning, and it was gone," he said.

Now, he's sure to secure his scooter every time he leaves it unattended. However, police say even bikes with locks are getting lifted. Bike shops, like Scoot Richmond, recommend heavy, chain linked locks to keep your ride safe.

"Cable locks aren't as safe as a chain locks because they're not as difficult to cut through," said Chelsea Lahmers, who owns Scoot Richmond.

Lahmers says that besides locks, insurance is also a must for riders. "In the event your bike is chained and someone decides they really want it, your insurance company will hopefully be able to make it whole again and get you back riding," added Lahmers.

Police also suggest writing down your serial number and taking pictures of your moped.

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