Any tips for parking scooter without it getting stolen? By mike932 (Read 1,508 times)

[mike932]

My 125cc scooter is very easy to steal because it is so light.  If I spend time in Los Angeles, and leave it alone for hours, what should I do?

Can I lock to a fence pole?

Can I find a place that has valet parking and let them watch it?

Should I ask a car repair shop to watch it for me for a fee?  Or a storage facility?

Any ideas?

[jerryscript]

You're going to get tons of advice about locks, alarms, and covers. None of that will stop a big city crew of theives, search YouTube for motorcycle theives to see how they pull up in a van and are gone in 15 seconds. There may be a lock and chain on the market that can withstand liquid nitrogen plus a hammer, but if so it will be very expensive. That leaves you with paid parking (tip the guard) or storage.

Knowing how easy it is to steal any two wheeler, I concern myself more with rapid recovery. The sooner a stolen vehicle is recovered, the less likely it is to be damaged or stripped. You can get a TK102 or TK103 GPS tracker for less than $40 delivered (about the cost of a decent lock and heavy chain). You can get a SIM card for it that costs $10 every 3 months. You call the GPS unit, it answers and hangs up, then sends you a text message with a link to the coordinates on Google Maps. You can also set up motion detection and/or geo-fencing so you are notified by text message if it is moved, and then you can find it immediately (preferably with LE's help). The 103 even has a mic you can activate and hear the thieves, possibly getting their names.

An added bonus is a panic button you can use to notify up to 5 people with your location if you need help, perhaps you had a wreck and broke your cell phone. And there is even a remote kill command you can send to shut the vehicle down.

Note- Full Disclosure -I'm seriously looking into starting a business installing these. Adverting at $100 installed with a special 25% off for tracking feature only, upsell installation of the other features at $5-$10 per option, I think it could be a decent business.

[czmdiver]

My grocery Getter.
I Weasel her up close to store fronts, There are a lot of places to leave a scoot up at the store front, plane view, Lotsa People around.
I do have a cable type lock I us at a few places.
LA area is tuff, if its not chained down its gone.

[jct842]

As said if they want it they take it. With it so easy to circumvent the ignition that is no problem. A $30,000 harley is out front now and 15 seconds later in side a van going bye bye. Insurance and that gps thing is about all there is. It is a different class of thieves that take scooters but the methods are pretty much the same.

[Alleyoop]

It also depends on what part of LA your going to park your scoot. Just like in every city there are neighborhoods where you should not even park your car IF your not from there(HAHA). If your in a questionable neighborhood then I would ask a garage for a 10 spot or so if you could leave it inside a bay on the side. Locks and all that just makes it a little harder for some but PRO's that does not deter them one bit.
Alleyoop

[crwford]

That's another reason I like my Zodiac 800 pounds plus it has a alarm a little wriggle ad lots of noise. But the alarm isn't a bad idea they make a lot of racket and cheep around 19 bucks on E Bay

[JR]

Aug 21, 2015 17:36:22 GMT -6 mike932 said:

My 125cc scooter is very easy to steal because it is so light.  If I spend time in Los Angeles, and leave it alone for hours, what should I do?

Can I lock to a fence pole?

Can I find a place that has valet parking and let them watch it?

Should I ask a car repair shop to watch it for me for a fee?  Or a storage facility?

Any ideas?

[mike932]

Thanks guys. At nighttime, I am going to try to sneak my scooter into my motel room.

[Alleyoop]

Aug 22, 2015 15:31:47 GMT -6 mike932 said:

Thanks guys. At nighttime, I am going to try to sneak my scooter into my motel room.

Great Idea Especially around motels they see a nice looking ride and it will be gone.
Alleyoop

[mike932]

I found another solution. AirBNB.com is a website that lists people who rent out rooms. I will rent a room from someone who owns a house and has good reviews. Then I will hide my scooter in his backyard or garage.

[Guitarman]

I use a kitchen timer and some fake explosive. Nobody gets near my bike while I'm gone. Only problem is I always have to fight my way thru a bunch of Cops for some reason. Weirdos.

[crwford]

I could just picture that for sure in today's world LOL

[gold9er2]

dude just get the biggest baddest lock you can find. always park it in a open space where theres lot of people around. other than that if they want it bad enough they will get it

[davec]

iwantsomefun.com/strong-chain-but-no-brain/

not like this guy

[flascoot]

I live in Florida and some idiot tried to steal my Tao Tao. What they didn't know: I had placed a ONGUARD u-lock on the front tire after someone tried to cut the wimpy $3 bike lock I originally had on it. They broke my plastic trim on the front but could not move it. Then I got a $20 Titanium cord & lock which is supposed to be "uncut-able" and I take the time to secure it to something immoveable if I have to leave it. The key: make it as difficult as possible because if u don't; ditto to all the other comments/suggestions.