Twenty to 30 mopeds have been reported stolen in the downtown area since early September, according to a Madison police estimate.
Most of the mopeds that get stolen aren't locked to anything but themselves,"" Ald. Austin King, District 8, said. ""Sure that makes it hard to drive away, but it doesn't make it hard to pick them up and put them on a truck bed.""
The growth in moped ownership on campus in recent years combined with the failure of students to lock up their vehicles are two factors that have led to the increase in theft, King said.
Nearly all mopeds come equipped with a locking device on the handlebars, but this leaves the moped more vulnerable than if the owner used a chain or a bike lock through the back wheel. In the past month, mopeds have been rolled away, lifted on to vehicles and driven away, and even hotwired.
Though this estimate does not include the UW-Madison campus, police still recommend students take precautions to avoid being victimized. Students should lock their mopeds to an immovable object or park it in areas that are well-lit, according to UW-Madison Police Lt. Eric Holen.
""We certainly want to get out the message that there are things people can do to reduce their chances of getting victimized,"" Holen said.
UW-Madison junior and moped owner Tommy Gregory said most students do not think moped theft is an issue, and place little effort in locking up their vehicle.
""Most people just park it and walk away,"" Gregory said. ""I don't really think people take the time to pull out a bike lock or a chain.""
""I wasn't aware that it was a problem,"" said UW-Madison junior Kyle Engelke, who had his moped vandalized last year.
A press release from the Madison Police Department advised moped owners to safeguard their vehicles by using locking devices around the wheels, securing them to a fixed object or incorporating a security device outfitted by the dealership.
