California leads the list...

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/apr/15/inside-insurance-good-news-bad-news-motorcyclists/?business Inside Insurance:
Good news, bad news for motorcyclistsARTICLE TOOLS E-mail story.

By David Colmans
I really miss riding my red Honda 360 when I was much younger. This is the time of year that is just perfect for a ride with friends who all had bigger bikes than yours truly. However, this is also the time of year that motorcycle thefts increase. Therefore, this is a cautionary tale.
Motorcycle thefts in 2009 continue their downward trend, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
A total of 56,093 motorcycles were reported stolen to law enforcement in 2009, down from 64,492 reported in 2008, a 13 percent drop.
The top five states with the most motorcycle theft activity in ’09 were:
California — 6,273
Texas — 5,526
Florida — 5,009
North Carolina — 3,045
Georgia — 2,067
These five states accounted for 21,920 thefts, or 39 percent of the total.
Other states include:
South Carolina — 2,002
Tennessee — 1,089
Alabama — 821
Mississippi — 836
Between 2006 and 2009, the total number of reported motorcycle thefts in the U.S. was 253,037, according to the NICB study.
The top five makes stolen last year were:
Honda — 13,688
Yamaha — 11,148
Suzuki — 9,154
Kawasaki — 5,911
Harley-Davidson — 3,529
Combined they accounted for 43,430 thefts, or 77.4 percent of the total.
While there has been a continuing decline in thefts of passenger vehicles and light trucks, the NICB also considers another possible factor contributing to the decline.
“There are fewer targets to steal in the first place,” says the NICB. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, motorcycle sales between 2008 and 2009 were down 40.8 percent. Likewise, the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association reported a 47.4 percent decrease in motorcycle production in 2009 from 2008 figures. It appears that the economy has had a significant role in at least the recent decline in thefts.
From a recovery standpoint, here are some of the 2009 statistics:
California — 2,070
Florida — 1,720
South Carolina — 525
Georgia — 554
Alabama — 228
Tennessee — 259
Mississippi — 184
According to “Motorcycle Cruiser” magazine, here are some of the best ways to prevent motorcycle theft in the first place.
— Keep the cycle out of sight either in a garage or by being covered up
— Always use the steering lock even though it can be defeated
— Do not rest a locked cycle on the ground, and a lock should go through the frame
— A bike locked to a heavy object is a better deterrent than one free-standing
— Use two or more locks of different types to make it harder for a thief
— Do not skimp on the quality of the locking devices
It should be no surprise that the summer months of July (6,319); August (6,079); and June (5,672) saw the most theft activity while the fewest thefts were recorded during the winter months of December (2,927); February (3,100); and January (3,570).
The good news is already in place. Great weather for rides. The bad news is don’t take it for granted. Safety on the roadways is a must, and caution to keep your ride in your possession is critical.
For more information, go to https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/brochures to review the NICB library of valuable theft and fraud awareness information.