(September 21, 2011) DES PLAINES, Ill. —The National Insurance Crime Bureau today reported that in 2010, motorcycle thefts were down 24 percent from their 2007 total. There were 65,678 motorcycles reported stolen in 2007 compared with 49,791 in 2010 — a decline of 24 percent. 

All data is from theft reports contained in the National Crime Information Center. 

The top five makes stolen last year were:  (1) Honda, 12,260; (2) Yamaha, 9,853; (3) Suzuki, 7,869; (4) Kawasaki, 5,470; and (5) Harley-Davidson, 3,301.  Combined, these five brands accounted for 38,753 thefts in 2010, or 77.8 percent of the total.

For 2010, the top five states with the most motorcycle thefts were:  (1) California, 5,662; (2) Texas, 4,394; (3) Florida, 4,148; (4) North Carolina, 2,649; and (5) Indiana, 1,925.  These five states accounted for 18,778 thefts, or 37.7 percent of the total.

While overall thefts are down, reflecting the continuing decline in thefts of passenger vehicles and light trucks, so, too, are motorcycle sales. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales between 2009 (520,502 units) and 2010 (439,678 units) were down 16 percent. 

Not surprising, in 2010, the summer months of July (5,714) and August (5,380) saw the most theft activity. The fewest thefts were recorded during the months of February (2,403) and December (2,763).  Over the entire period covered by this report, 2007-2010, July recorded the most thefts (26,352) while the fewest occurred in December (13,944).