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Police Investigate Scooter, Motorcycle Thefts In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police are investigating a rash of scooter and motorcycle thefts in Philadelphia.

Surveillance video released by police allegedly shows three men in hooded sweatshirts loading two motorcycles into the back of a van.

Police say it happened last Thursday at 17th and Locust, not far from where Tiffany Knappenberger has her scooter parked.

"I expected this area to be secure more than anywhere else in the city," said Knappenberger.

But police say nearly 20 scooters and motorcycles have been stolen over the last month and a half from the Center City and South Philadelphia area. Police say six of the stolen scooters and motorcycles have been recovered in Camden, New Jersey.

"They are light and they are small so they are easy targets as opposed to like a big heavy motorcycle," said Rich Everill.

Rich Everill says he was almost a victim too, but caught the thieves in the act. He works at an East Passyunk scooter shop where customers have been talking about the rash of thefts.

"Ninety-nine percent of them aren't locked up when they're stolen, so the most important thing is to get a heavy duty motorcycle chain, not like hardware store chain, but like the ones that are actually meant for power sports and lock it to something that's not moveable," said Everill.

Police say the most recent thefts happened Monday at the corner of Jackson and Carlisle Streets and on the 400 block of Wolf Street.

Tiffany says she'll now be locking her scooter for sure.

"At most mine weighs like 350 pounds so two guys can lift that up if they really wanted to," she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police.

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