Md. ranked 8th in motorcycle theft

An analysis of crime data by the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows that Maryland had the eighth-highest number of motorcycle thefts nationwide, the Baltimore Sun reports.

But mirroring a national trend, the number of incidents statewide decreased to 1,538, down about 27 percent from its peak in 2008, the report shows. Virginia ranked 16th-highest for the number of motorcycles stolen, while the District was 46th.

Researchers for the nonprofit organization analyzed data from the National Crime Information Center, a database which law enforcement agencies use to report stolen items.

According to the report, there has been a 13 percent decline in motorcycle theft nationwide since 2008. Thefts have continued to decrease every year since 2006. But according to industry reports, motorcycle sales have also been decreasing since 2005.

These findings mirror declines in overall motor vehicle theft in Maryland. Vehicle thefts were down 26 percent in the first six months of 2009, according to uniform crime reports from Maryland law enforcement, said Greg Shipley, a spokesman for the Maryland State Police. Those reports do not break out thefts by type of vehicle.

Vehicle thefts have declined 29 percent from a high of 35,858 in 2004 to 25,340 in 2008, the most recent data available.