ScootMaryland

Officials register the first scooter in Annapolis Police Department's new anti-theft program. From left, Lt. William Powell looks on as V Moto employee Gerry Webbplaces an anti-theft sticker on the front of his scooter. Behind the bike, are Joseph M. Asplen, from the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, Maj. Ray Presleyfrom the Maryland Theft Prevention Council, and Bob Emory, who heads up the police department's vehicle theft prevention programs.

Annapolis police kick-start scooter-theft-prevention effort

By LISA BEISEL, Staff Writer

Published January 23, 2009

City residents may get a more watchful eye on their beloved scooters, thanks to a new program through the Annapolis Police Department.

Yesterday, police kicked off an effort to help reduce the number of scooters that are stolen on city streets, and to help return those that are stolen to the rightful owners. The program is modeled after the "Watch Your Car" program, which is run by the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council.

Under the scooter program, owners give their serial numbers and other information to police and get a sticker to put on their scooters. The sticker gives officers probable cause to pull the scooter driver over at any time of the day. This is because scooter thefts happen more frequently during the day, said Bob Emory, a retired lieutenant from the Annapolis Police Department who currently serves as a vehicle-theft prevention specialist.

"A lot of scooters are stolen during the day," he said. "It's a little bit of a different pattern from automobiles."

In 2008, there were 125 vehicles stolen in the city, and 41 of them were motor scooters.

The scooter program runs similarly to the car program that allows a police officer to pull over a car between 1 and 5 a.m. that is registered with the program and stickered. Once again, it gives the officer probable cause to pull the car over and make sure the owner is driving. The program is ideal for people who do not drive in the early morning hours, because many car thefts happen in the overnight hours.

The "Watch Your Scooter" program is funded through the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, and is supported by the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.

"Police recognize the problem," Mr. Emory said.

Often, police recover the stolen scooter, but because scooters are not registered with the Maryland Vehicle Administration, it is difficult to find the rightful owners.

Maj. Ray Presley, from the Maryland Theft Prevention Council, said the scooter program is the first of its kind, adding that scooter thefts are a problem because they are popular in Annapolis.

"We're very excited about it," he said.

The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, based in Annapolis, provided the stickers for the program, which will be placed on the front and back of scooters.

"We saw a need ... and we wanted to come out and be part of the solution," said Joseph M. Asplen, special investigations unit manager.

George Steiner, owner of V-Moto Scooters, said customers have heard about scooter thefts being a problem, and he will offer the scooter program information to anyone who buys a scooter there.

"We're hoping this will deter it," he said.

For now, V-Moto Scooters is the only store in Annapolis that has the program registration, but Mr. Emory will be contacting other stores to stock them up with registrations, too. And people interested in the program may also get registrations at the police station.

Gerry Webb, the shop manager at V-Moto Scooters, was the first person to register his scooter in the program.

"I see all the scooters that get stolen ..." he said. "Half the time, the scooters don't get back to the original owners."

He said he knows officers may pull him over while he's driving his own scooter, but it's worth it in the long run to protect his investment.

"Let them stop us," Mr. Webb said. "It just gives them a better way to do their job and we're all better off."

Original Article