Theft

Because you wanted a new one anyway, right? Sick of your bike? Sick enough to gift-wrap it for the local felons? Imagine the money they'll make.

A crook can have your bike in 20 seconds, and they're not shy either.

According to our friends at the Chula Vista, California, Police Department, an ambitious thief can pull down six figures per year nicking bikes just like yours. On second thought, save the gift wrap: Here's how to earn a spot on your local grand larcenist's Christmas-card list.

Motorcyclists be warned: Thieves in St. Joseph are not afraid of carting motorcycles away in the middle of the afternoon.

The St. Joseph Police Department is looking into a string of motorcycle thefts involving usually two or three people loading parked bikes into their trucks and taking off.

“(The thefts) aren’t totally original, but it’s not overly commonplace,” Cmdr. Jim Connors of the St. Joseph Police Department said. “I think it says something about how much people pay attention.”

Mr. Connors said both bikes were properly parked and locked at the time of thefts.

“Each of the motorcycles were locked. They had done all they could,” he said. “It’s just one of the dangers of riding a motorcycle and leaving it in what basically is an open situation.”

(YBL Comment: What do you do to protect your bike when you're not on it?)