Dirt Bikes, ATVs Targeted In Thefts In Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Dirt bikes have been targeted in a series of thefts around Cleveland, prosecutors announced this week.

Three separate dirt bike thefts occurred last weekend and are currently being investigated in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said.

“These three thefts represent just a fraction of at least 90 incidents we have noticed over the last 18 months,” O’Malley said. “The individuals behind this are likely contributors to the larger scale problem of these vehicles taking over our community’s streets. If these thieves are not stopped, we run the risk of someone getting hurt or even killed.”

On Saturday, a Michigan man drove to Groton Park to meet a buyer for his dirt bike. When he let the buyer take a test ride, after getting an envelope with what he thought was cash, the suspect drove off and never returned, O'Malley's office said.

Later, the Michigan man checked the envelope and discovered he'd been paid in counterfeit money, prosecutors said.

A day later, in separate incidents on Sunday, two men came to Cleveland from Pennsylvania to sell their dirt bikes. In both incidents, the sellers met a man near E. 97th Street and Lamont Avenue. The "buyer" wanted to take a test ride before buying the dirt bike.

One of the sellers agreed to a test ride, and the buyer drove off without paying.

In the other exchange, the buyer used counterfeit money to purchase a test drive, again riding off without actually paying for the bike, prosecutors said.

Cleveland police are investigating all three dirt bike thefts.

Over the past 18 months, similar crimes have occurred in Cleveland's 3rd and 5th districts, prosecutors said. Since February 2020, approximately 90 dirt bike thefts have happened in Cleveland, with victims coming from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.

The majority of the dirt bike thefts (83) began as a conversation via Facebook Marketplace. Since the theft spree began, 63 dirt bikes have been taken and 21 ATVs have been stolen. Counterfeit cash was used in 23 of the thefts, prosecutors said.

“Several people being victimized live outside of our county and are unfamiliar with what is going on. I urge everyone to use good judgment and avoid traveling to Cleveland to sell these types of vehicles,” O’Malley said. “Conduct the transaction at a suburban police department or go to safetradespots.com to find other options.”

Anyone with tips on these crimes should contact their local police department, prosecutors said.