Modern Vespa

My newly acquired 74 Rally 200 has been stolen. It's white with silver rally stripes. Plate is VESPA74. It was taken from the Pruneyard shopping center in broad daylight. Ignition locked and steering column locked. No witnesses. Engine and body VIN match. Body has a little rust and silver rust preventer under floorboard and along bottom edge of cowls.

Info reported on Scoot.net.

Please PM if you see it.

Wow that is incredibly lame dude. I hope you get that back. That's a tough one to have stolen.

Wow, really sorry to hear it. We'll keep our eyes out for it.

Got any pictures?

Also cross posted on the Quitters forum.

Thanks Oz and Jess. I hadn't gotten around to taking photos yet - but there is a good one on this post:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic51742?highlight=rally+200

Notice that it's not an original seat. That and the silver rust prevention. Otherwise it's pretty much orignal.

Bummer. I will keep an eye out here in Sacramento.

Jess - that pic is the Rally in Seattle. This one is mine - there is no sticker or seat blemish. But, yes the turn signals are intact.

Major bummer!!

You might ask the mall security if they have cameras of the parking lot.
You might get lucky.

But do it fast I don't know how long they keep thier tapes...

I'll keep an eye out for it. I'm in your area.

I KNOW YOUR ON THE CASE

BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK ALL BUISNESSES IN THE AREA FOR VIDEO FOOTAGE IN THAT TIME FRAME

flyboy is 100% right

sorry this happened

oh no!! of all the bikes to be stolen, this one hurts a lot!
let's hope it shows up intact
we are so sorry for you Brian!
jackasses they are

So sorry Brian! I hope you find it! I was miserable when my scoot was stolen and it wasn't a Rally or anything

I live in Campbell, about 3 blocks from Pruneyard, and park there all the time. I'm really nervous now!! Sorry to hear about your loss, I will certainly keep an eye out for your scooter. Where exactly did you park at Pruneyard?

I was parked in between Hollywood Video (closed) and BBQ's Galore. They don't have video and the mall only has video in the covered garages due to some hit and run issues there. There are two banks, both about 50 - 100 yards away. The Campbell police are following up with them today. Likelihood of that part of the lot on those cameras is pretty slim though.

The officer that I gave my report to was pretty stunned, so it doesn't seem like it was a usual event at all. Incredibly brazen, they would have had to pick it up and put it in a truck or on a trailer. No one in BBQ's Galore saw a thing and any one in the lot likely thought that it was just broken down.

This is the stuff of nightmares for me from years back on my previous scoot....so sorry to hear about it.

I'll definitely keep a look out here...

I usually park in front of the theater and go to the movies so my scooter is there for a couple of hours. There is an end spot that is too small for a car, sort of triangle shaped in front of a restaurant by the theater. The last time I came out I was blocked in by a bunch of Harleys. It was a motorcycle club (the Devil's Disciples I think). They were very nice, moved their bikes and asked me if I wanted to join them. They were leaving for Sacramento in a couple of minutes! Anyway, that is usually a pretty crime free area. There has been some trouble in the two story parking lot in the past, muggings etc, but nothing in the past couple of years that I remember. I hope it turns up and keep us posted.

That triangle is where we usually park, but we went first to Tandoori Grill for lunch. Maybe safer there due to more traffic, etc. But still incomprehensible to me the balls on these bozos. (I'd call them bastards, but have too many friends who bastards and no way I wish to sully the name...)

its a long shot

try to contact the local news broadcast

tell them the story and offer photos

maybe they will run a off beat segment on the news about vintage scooter stolen from "pruneyard" and describe how if anyone has any information on this

maybe add in how these things are extremely person to those who own them

it will take some persuasion but worth the shot

Oh no! What a crying shame. I really hope you get it back. The cretins! Why I otta ....

Good luck and please be sure to keep us posted!

That *blows*... I'll definitely keep my eyes peeled - online and locally - and make sure you give the usual suspects a heads up in case somebody brings it by to sell.

So weak. I go to the Pruneyard all the time, as well. I even park on that side of the building (I eat @ Tandoori frequently).

Any chance ya have it insured for theft?

Best of luck to ya.

Ted

isn't that hard to get for vehicles over a certain age?

Man that sucks! I hope the scumbags get caught and you get your bike back.

I worked in the area last year and stayed at Larkspur Landing next to the center. It's such an unsuspecting area for these kind of things, especially in broad daylight. Seems like it's always busy there.

That sucks and i hope you find the s.o.b who stole it. Keep the faith since thru MV some stolen scooters have been found. Good luck and hang in there. I hate people who steal

Thanks all for the good thoughts. No news today. I do have insurance, but sure would rather have the scoot back. I had a '67 Buick that was taken years ago - got it back sans motor, radio and seats. Maybe better luck this time.

So sorry to hear about this theft...it's so much harder to lose a vintage scooter, though having any scooter stolen is just awful.

You may want to make up a flyer and visit each shop that has a strong potential for customers being in the general area and see if they'll let you post the flyer or if they'll hand them out for you. There a big Barnes&Noble nearby...does it have an entrance on that side of the mall? And the banks...often they have merchant/clients who come in at set times every day or every other day and may have seen something but thought nothing of it at the time.

Fingers crossed that someone will remember something useful.

i am so sorry to hear that but have faith mate i hope it will be found sooner with the same condition when its been stolen too, i really hope so

It sounds like some kids took it for a joy ride - have you tried just looking around the nearby areas where they hang out. You could always put up a small sign saying you're looking for your scooter and offer a small reward if found. I doubt it will be more than a couple of miles away as most kids would prefer to take a car. I was going to suggest a disk lock but that scoot looks like it won't take one.

Remember the good old days when people were hung for stealing horses? There are times when going retro is the way to go.

Sorry to hear about your loss Redcat. I'd lend you Oliver but he guards my bike. ( unless bribed off with a cheesburger.) Have you ever thought of getting a Zoomback and motion detector alarm for the bike? Might help out on your remaining bike.

This is suspicious. I've been following this post because the deed occurred near where I live. Then today, I see this ad for a "1978 Rally" engine in Dublin. The poster says he just bought the engine for cheap on CL and is turning it around for sale. Take a look:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mcy/1378168289.html

Redcatjack said the engine and body VIN matched on his scooter, so it should be possible to find out pretty quickly by setting up meeting with the seller.

The way the posting is written is defensive and really suspicious. My guess is the seller knows or suspects it's hot merch. If the engine number matches then this kid is fencing stolen property.

I would call the local police who took the report and get their advice. Also screen CL for other likely parts.

Go get 'em. String 'em up by his nether regions

I would go check it out RED. It does seem suspect and the person who stole it probably doesn't realize the engine VIN. Parting it out would make more sense than to sell the scooter without proper paperwork. Good luck and i hope it is them and you can nail the SOB.

yes call the officer who took the report

he or she should have left you there card with name, badge #, cell #

MOVE QUICK

Vintage Italian Vespas did not come with matching frame/engine numbers.
If it's registered in California correctly, the title/paperwork should have the engine and frame numbers listed on it.

That may well be the case, but I was only going by what Redcatjack said in this initial post, and since it was his scooter it would seem that he'd know. But what I really want to know is: any progress on finding it? And did Redcatjack check out that engine from CL?

Yeah, that's what I want to know. I am tempted to PM just to satisfy my curiosity.

Noticing more suspiciousness.... keeping a little more quiet as to not spill too many beans.