A motorcycle owner who had his electric vehicle stolen from Coquitlam this month found it hours after the theft — thanks to police and a GPS tracking device.
Coquitlam Mounties say they were able to locate the motorcycle after owner Atharva Sangani called the detachment on May 15, 2024, and reported the vehicle’s coordinates.
Const. Scott Shaw discovered the motorcycle in the bushes and returned it to Sangani.
“I’m really thankful to the Coquitlam RCMP,” Sangani said in a news release.
“Once I called the police, they were there very quickly located my motorcycle. They made me feel comfortable and I am extremely happy to have my motorcycle back.”
Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Alexa Hodgins said Sangani “did everything right” by notifying police as soon as he noticed his wheels missing, and by providing as much description as possible to Mounties to recover it.
With May being BC Highway Patrol’s motorcycle safety campaign month, Hodgins suggests the following tips for owners:
- Photograph your motorcycle
- Install or place a portable GPS tracker in your motorcycle, if possible
- Report a theft to your local police station as soon as you see your vehicle gone
- Provide police with as much detail as possible
Also, to prevent theft from and of vehicles, the RCMP offers these suggestions:
- Don’t leave any property in your vehicle
- Don’t leave any personal identification in an unattended vehicle
- Don’t leave your car running with the keys inside
- Don’t keep spare keys to your vehicle in the vehicle
- Don’t keep your garage door opener in your vehicle along with any identifying information