Research shows property crime rises significantly after the start of daylight savings time in early March, with 32% of motorcycle thefts in the United States occurring in the warmest months. You might spend more time away from home now the evenings are lighter, leaving valuables like motorcycles in garages vulnerable to criminals.
Attaching a GPS tracker — like the ones made by LandAirSea (LAS) — to your motorcycle now the clocks have rolled forward provides the following benefits:
- Receive a notification on your smartphone if someone steals your motorcycle from your home, workplace, or any other location
- Track your motorcycle in real time as it moves from its original location on a map
- Identify the final destination of your stolen motorcycle and recover it
- Share location information with law enforcement and your insurance company
Learn more about GPS and motorcycle theft in this edition of LAS’ spring theft prevention series.
Why Does Motorcycle Theft Rise In The Spring?
Research from smart home company Vivint reveals the following crimes increase after the clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March, which, for many people, marks the start of spring:
- Motor vehicle theft
- Theft of motor vehicle parts
- Theft from motor vehicles
There are many theories about why property crime increases after daylight savings time. Perhaps homeowners leave windows, doors, and garages open more frequently when the weather is warmer. Or maybe theft rises because people are more likely to vacation at this time of the year. Another reason could be that people feel uncomfortable in warmer temperatures, resulting in aggressive behaviors like criminal activity.
Whatever the reason for the rise in property crime in the spring and summer months, you must take action and prevent belongings like your motorcycle.
Motorcycles are extremely valuable to criminals, who often steal these vehicles to sell their parts. Alternatively, thieves might sell more expensive makes and models on the black market and make thousands of dollars. Joyriders might not steal motorcycles for financial gain but for the thrill of riding a stolen vehicle. These criminals might abandon a motorcycle after stealing it.
How To Prevent Motorcycle Theft At This Time Of The Year
With motorcycle theft more likely to occur now spring is here, consider protecting your vehicle in the following ways:
- Park your motorcycle in secure parking lots when possible
- Lock your ignition and remove your keys when not operating your vehicle
- Lock your motorcycle, even when it’s in your garage
- Attach your vehicle to a light pole or other fixture when parking it on the street
- Install an alarm system on your motorcycle
- Install security cameras on your property
All of these steps will prevent criminals from stealing your motorcycle. But what happens if the worst-case scenario happens? A GPS tracking device will tell you where your motorcycle ends up if someone takes it, making it easier to recover your vehicle.
Using GPS Devices For Motorcycle Theft
You can use a GPS tracking device to identify the real-time location of a stolen motorcycle:
Create A Geofence
GPS trackers for motorcycles use a technology called geofencing, which lets you create a virtual perimeter around a location on a map. Say you create a geofence around your garage and attach a GPS device to your motorcycle. If someone moves the motorcycle from the geofence (your garage), you’ll receive a notification on your smartphone.
Identify The Location Of Your Motorcycle
Once you receive a geofence alert on your phone, you can track your stolen vehicle as it moves from your garage to another location. You’ll be able to see the exact route your motorcycle takes in real time. If you don’t have your phone on you when your motorcycle goes missing, you can check historical playback data and learn its final destination.
You’ll always be able to identify the location of your motorcycle as long as it has a tracker attached to it, thanks to GPS. The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a system of satellites orbiting the planet that send signals to GPS devices, letting you pinpoint the precise location of your vehicle.
LAS devices can determine the location of your motorcycle within six inches, making them more accurate than GPS-enabled smartphones. They are also more secure than Apple AirTags.
Recover Your Vehicle
Once you learn where a criminal has taken your motorcycle, you can try to recover it. You’ll be able to view your motorcycle’s whereabouts even if a thief continues to move it to different locations. LAS devices with ShareSpot technology let you share location information with law enforcement, who can help you recover your motorcycle and find the person responsible for the theft. You can share information with law enforcement through the SilverCloud mobile app with a few swipes of a finger.
Provide Evidence To Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies might delay or refuse to pay out on a claim for a stolen motorcycle if you don’t provide enough evidence. GPS location information can prove someone stole your vehicle and took it to another location, strengthening your claim. You might be able to receive funds from your insurer more quickly and use this money to purchase a new vehicle if unable to recover your original one.
You can also use GPS trackers for situations other than theft. These devices prove useful if you’ve forgotten where you’ve parked your vehicle. You can also track any employees in your business who use motorcycles to deliver goods to customers and clients. For example, learn how long food delivery drivers take to reach a customer’s address if you own a restaurant. You’ll be able to find out which route drivers take to reach their destination, whether they stop along the way, and if they drive too fast. LAS devices generate speed alerts, helping you monitor driver performance.
Where To Place A GPS Tracker On A Motorcycle
You’ll need to place a GPS tracker in a discreet location on your motorcycle to avoid criminals seeing it. Here are some areas to keep your tracker:
- Inside one of the mirrors
- In the airbox
- Underneath side fairings
- Underneath the seat
- Near the tail
- In a storage box attached to your motorcycle
GPS And Motorcycle Theft: Which Device Should You Choose?
LAS offers various GPS tracking devices to identify the location of your motorcycle after someone steals it:
LandAirSea 54
LandAirSea 54 has industrial-strength magnets that attach to various areas of your motorcycle, making installation simple. This product is also waterproof, dustproof, and comes with a dark mode. Other features include geofence alerts, speed alerts, battery alerts, and InstaFence.
LandAirSea SYNC
You can use LandAirSea Sync on your motorcycle if it has an OBD II port. Sync connects directly to this port, meaning you don’t need batteries. Other features include speed alerts, geofence alerts, and arrival and departure notifications.
LandAirSea Overdrive
LandAirSea Overdrive has a battery that lasts three-to-four times longer than 54. It’s also waterproof, dustproof, and small enough to attach to multiple areas of your motorcycle. Overdrive comes with an internal magnet for easy installation and offers battery alerts, speed alerts, fence alerts, and a dark mode.
Not sure which LAS product to use for GPS and motorcycle theft? Contact LAS to learn more.
Why LAS?
Since the early ’90s, LAS has manufactured GPS tracking devices for various industries, including law enforcement, border control, professional services, construction, local government, and the military. Here are some of the benefits of purchasing products from this company:
- Excellent customer support
- Easy installation
- Activate your GPS device in a few simple steps
- Access online tutorials when setting up and troubleshooting your tracking device
- Pay-as-you-go pricing model for selected products
- No hidden fees
- LAS GPS trackers for motorcycles are up to 80% cheaper than similar products
Final Word About GPS And Motorcycle Theft In The Spring
Crime statistics reveal property theft increases after the start of daylight savings time in March. While you can protect your motorcycle from criminals in the spring by locking it up correctly and investing in an alarm system, a GPS tracker can tell you the location of your vehicle if someone steals it. LAS trackers are compact, easy to install and activate, and provide the real-time location insights you need to recover a stolen motorcycle. Whether you choose 54, Sync, or Overdrive, you can track your vehicle and share location information with law enforcement and your insurance company.
Order a motorcycle GPS tracker today and make it easier to locate and recover your vehicle if it goes missing this spring. Alternatively, email [email protected] for more information about GPS and motorcycle theft.