stolen R6 recovered in Ogden, UT

[mrbonuscup]

2 years ago on Memorial Day I was stirred from my sleep at 7 am in the pouring rain from the sound of my R6 trying to turn over. To my dismay a young Hispanic fellow had already popped the steering wheel lock off and was hot wiring as I rubbed the crud from my eyes. He was faster than I was because the bike started right as I hit the front porch and he tore across my lawn with a rooster tail that eclipsed the size of my house. I had no theft insurance and the SLC PD told me there was little chance of recovery.

To my surprise, I received a call from the Ogden PD,that they had pulled over a man on a bike with a shaved off VIN, somehow they traced the bike back to me (how do they do that? engine parts? ) since there was no insurance pay out the bike is mine and I can pick it up. But I have questions about the process..

1) will I get a new VIN?

2) How will I start it ? My key obviously won't work

3) How much are impound fees? Is it a flat rate ? Is it different when you are picking up a stolen bike? I didn't get this bike impounded so am I liable?

4) Can I sue this guy?

5) Once returned to me.. should I get a lojack? or some kind of GPS tracker?

sorry this is so long , but I have so many questions...


mrbonuscup

[Aliphian]

So they recovered the bike 2 years later? WTF?

[EliR6]

1) don't know
2) if you're not confident you can do it yourself, take the bike to a shop and have them install a new key assembly. OR, there are ways to "hotwire" the bike. he may not have ever replaced the key assembly, actually. You'll have to wait and see when you get there.
3) You ARE liable for them. They vary, plan on a few hundred bucks at least.
4) HELL YES you can sue him. Take him for everything you can! Repairs on the bike, impound fees, etc etc etc. I'd even try to make him buy the bike from me (for more than it's worth) because you have NO IDEA how it was treated while he had it.
5) forget lojack, GET THEFT INSURANCE. Seems like a no-brainer after what you've been through, doesn't it?

[mrbonuscup]

agreed EliR6 .. I will have theft from now on.. but that won't help me find the bike if this happens again. I am looking for a solution that will help me see that the bike is only 20 miles away.. I would have went up there and kicked his ass if I knew it was still local to me..

thanks for the responses though.. I am calling a Lawyer today to start that going

mrb

[Bruizza]

That sucks about ur bike getting stolen. At least u r getting it back. Get the lojack and theft insurance and u will be fine.