Philadelphia police are searching for a band of thieves responsible for stealing dozens of scooters and motorcycles from South Philadelphia and Center City in the last three months.
Since July 1, 39 scooters and 14 motorcycles have been stolen in those areas, police said. The Third Police District, which includes Bella Vista, Southwark, and Pennsport, has had the highest number of thefts, with 19.
Of the 53 vehicles stolen, 13 scooters have been recovered, including 10 in Camden, N.J. Police believe the thieves are from Camden, and are using work vans, 15-passenger vans, and box trucks to transport the scooters. The bikes are being taken over to Camden and sold, police claim. The majority of the thefts have occurred between midnight and 5 a.m.
Police have surveillance from thefts on the 400 block of Fairmount Avenue and the 100 block of Church Street. One of the men in the video has been involved in numerous thefts, according to police. He is described as a black of Hispanic male, approximately 40 years old, wearing a long bandana. In the video, the men are seen operating a white van and white box truck, both with New Jersey license plates.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call police at 215-685-9133. The video from police is below.
