A motorcycle dealership that moved to Burnaby two years ago to get away from escalating break-ins in Vancouver was hit by its biggest theft yet this week.
Burnaby RCMP got a report Monday morning that about 14 electric off-road motorcycles and accessories were stolen from a business on Regent Street, according to an email from the detachment.
Joule Motorcycles owner Steve Miloshev told the Burnaby NOW he came to his shop early Monday morning and was "shocked" to find the showroom half empty.
He said it appeared the thieves knew what they were doing, that they had entered the electrical room and knocked out the power and internet, leaving the security system untriggered.
They even took the memory card from a panel with a backup security camera, according to Miloshev.
He said the thieves targeted off-road bikes, which don't need insurance or a driver's licence.
"They were obviously professional," Miloshev said.
With each motorcycle worth about $7,000, according to Miloshev ,the hit totals nearly $100,000.
"It's frustrating because we've been doing this business for 20 years, and we see them more and more aggressive," Milosev said.
He said his business was broken into in Vancouver more than a dozen times before he moved it to Burnaby two years ago.
“I was so glad that I moved to a safer place, and I never expected this one to happen.”
Miloshev is now hoping to make it difficult for the thieves to sell the stolen bikes.
He has posted with motorcycle groups on social media and is warning people to beware if someone offers them a good deal on a new electric ride.
In a Facebook post, he noted Joule Motorcycles is the only dealer on the West Coast selling the brands of bikes (Caofen and Kollter/Tinbot) taken by the thieves.
"If you come across anyone privately offering the bikes shown in the pictures, please let us know immediately," he said in the post.
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