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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK AMONG STATES WITH HIGHEST RATE OF MOTORCYCLE THEFT

ALBANY, N.Y., April 26, 2016—The New York Insurance Association (NYIA) advises that motorcycle thefts in New York increased by 23 percent from 2014 to 2015.

According to a report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), motorcycle thefts nationwide increased by six percent during the same time period, rising for the first time in 10 years. New York State had the fifth highest rate of motorcycle theft in the U.S. in 2015, up from a ranking of 6 in the previous year. From 2014 to 2015, the number of thefts of motorcycles in the state increased from 1,544 to 1,902, resulting in the 23 percent increase.

The most thefts throughout the U.S. occurred in August, and the fewest thefts occurred in February. This is consistent with theft rates in previous years and suggests a continued weather-related pattern.

To prevent motorcycle theft, the NICB recommends several precautions:

• Always lock your ignition, remove your keys, and park in well-lit areas.
• Consider anti-theft devices like an alarm or a recovery system.
• Properly document your motorcycle (including taking photographs) and make identifying marks on your vehicle.
• Store your title in a safe place—not in your motorcycle’s storage compartment.

“Motorcycle owners should take all possible precautions to secure their vehicles,” Ellen Melchionni, president of NYIA said. “As the weather grows warmer, it is more important than ever to protect your motorcycle.”

Anyone with information concerning insurance fraud or vehicle theft can report it anonymously by calling toll-free 800-TEL-NICB (800-835-6422) or texting keyword “fraud” to TIP411 (847411).

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is a not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through data analytics, investigations, training, legislative advocacy and public awareness.

The New York Insurance Association (NYIA®) is a state trade association that has represented the property and casualty insurance industry for more than 130 years.

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Contact: Cassandra Anderson
(518) 432-4227 or (518) 312-3315
canderson@nyia.org

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