Modern Vespa

Ive had my vespa for over ten years in NYC. Ive had the akrapovic the whole time. Last night someone stole the whole exhaust-the whole pipe.

What can I do to prevent this from happening again? Have it welded on? Security bolts?

Thanks in adavance

-David

You can not weld it on it needs to be able to move about, Most crooks carry every available type of fastener tool with them, my suggestion would be to get a movement sensitive alarm fitted. There would be no way to remove an exhaust without causing movement and therefore setting the alarm off.

Get a cover.

Sorry about that David. That sucks. I've had two scooters stolen from my locked in garage. It's a detached garage even then it's not enough.

Edited for spelling

This is near the top of my list for things I hate. Don't touch my stuff. Animals with no respect for other peoples property. Alarm is the best way to go and try to park it where you can see it from a window and hopefully hear it. Even then these people are quick, they can usually be in and out in under 2 mins.

May seem pointless to do a police report but if they get caught in their stolen car (which is likely the case) and they have a bunch of exhausts inside, there's at least a small chance you'll get it back.

Uncle had his catalytic converter stolen and thanks to some quick acting cops they chased the guys down in their stolen car, crashed it and my uncle got it back same day, along with about 5 other people from my town.

You never know

If you get a new one, take it to an engraver and have a cool custom design engraved on it.

cute lol. but only useful for proving ownership once it's been found by the police

May a crop of itch descend upon their home.

FTFY

preferably a crop of crotch itch

Get a sticker

subject to getting the right size & grade of bolt, could you replace the arrowed bolt with a security type of bolt (like locking wheel nuts)?

I would expect thieves would not stick around with an active alarm
going off. I regret that you are not able to lock it away out of sight
somewhere. But, I understand this is not always available.

Best of luck.

Bob Copeland

stealing has gotten worse. Where I live people love to steal catalytic converters from cars and it happens daily. My wife and I had our bikes locked at a hi end maul. Someone stole both of our front and rear lights in a busy area during the day. I rarely leave my scooter outside when I am not near it but for me it is recreational and I have a garage. just sucks

LarryMK,

I was just looking up property crime rates. Evidently they have actually been
going down. Despite this, I expect some targeted thefts are on the rise.
The theft of catalytic converters is off the chart also here in Minnesota.

I have customers (I am in the auto insurance business) who have had
their converters chopped off and stolen, replaced and stolen a 2nd time.

Bob Copeland

All good suggestions. I grew up in a rough area. My best suggestion would be, it they can't see it, they can't steal it. Hide if possible.

I am on a neighborhood blog. Everyday someone is posting a theft, attempted breakin etc. so perhaps crime rates are down but it does not seem that way. Someone posted on facebook that they stole the catalytic converter from the Oscar Meyer weinermobile. So crazy.

As a fellow Brooklynite & Vespa owner I feel really bad, pissed off and angry.
I am not sure there are any real measures you can take other than to park the Vespa in a secured lot.
I keep my Vespa covered in the front of the brownstone, and when I go anywhere and have to park it on the street I do cover it up even if it is for a few hours only.
I remember a few years back walking home around 1AM in the morning, seeing a guy using a cordless angle grinder cutting through one of those heavy duty kryptonite chain locks, and I tried to challenge him only to be told to mind my own f'ing business. I called 911 while talking to the person on the other end, within a minute the guy had cut through the chain, a van pulled up and the bike was hauled in and they were gone.
One just feels violated.
Sorry for your loss.
If it would help we could meet for a beer and discuss the many crappy things that happen yet we enjoy living in Brooklyn.

LarryMK,

It certainly does seem like crime is increasing.

There is much debate about the correct approach to policing
and law and order in general.

I expect we are on a pendulum swing where the animals are
running the farm. Hopefully it will swing back to common sense.

Meanwhile, my scoots and cars are locked tight in my windowless
garage. Double locks on the doors. Outside lights on front and back
during the night.

Be safe and hide your stuff.

Bob Copeland

I will not respond to the political stuff as it could only get me in trouble, but I also lock everything up

larry

What about use stainless steel hose clamp and TIG weld the nut with screw? Just slightly, so it won`t be possible to loose it on parking lot. If you would need to disconnect the exhaust, cut the screw with Dremel or angle grinder

Almost all security bolts can be removed with this tool

They stole the 10-year-old Muffler. And it took them 10 years to get around to it. Let's see, if you make it hard to steal the muffler won't Bert just tell Ernie to bring the van around..." let's take the whole damn scooter!"

O.S.

The OEM exhaust is obviously heavy and fugly for a reason