Motorcycle Rallies and Events

Motorcycle stolen 27 years ago found unassembled in basement

April 12th, 2007

After receiving an anonymous tip, police in Machesney Park, IL found a 1980 Harley Low Rider that had been disassembled and stored in the basement. This motorcycle had been reported stolen 27 years ago this month, by an undisclosed Machesney Park owner, who has since died. The motorcycle will be turned over to the insurance company that paid for the loss.

Darcy L. Corbin has been charged with unlawful possession of essential motor vehicle parts and destroying the vehicle identification number. He is out of jail after posting bond. I am not sure what kind of crime “unlawful possession of essential motor vehicle parts and destroying the vehicle identification number” equates to as far as punishment, but after 27 years I guess the statute of limitations prevents any higher charges.

Many people who have ridden motorcycle for any length of time have experienced motorcycle theft, unfortunately. I had two of my motorcycles stolen back in the mid to late seventies. The first, a 1976 Harley Davidson Superglide, was chained to a Navy buddies BMW motorcycle while he and I were out doing a shakedown cruise on the ship we served on. When we got back, his BMW was there, as well as the chain, which had been torched. My motorcycle, however, was nowhere to be found. I used the insurance money from that loss to buy a 1978 Low Rider, which I had after being discharged from the Navy and moving to Colorado. This motorcycle was chained (poorly, I admit, since I only chained the front wheel to the frame). I had it parked on our frunt porch for the winter. Someone came by in broad daylight, with my wife and daughter watching TV less than 10 feet away, and picked the motorcycle off the porch with a manual forklift.

To my knowledge, my superglide was never recovered. However, five years after my Low Rider was stolen, after I had moved here to North Carolina, I got a call from Colorado saying they had found the motor to my Low Rider in a raid. The guy who owned the shop my motor was found in was charged with receiving stolen property (not just my motor, but a lot of other motorcycle parts turned out to be from stolen motorcycles).

So, how can we prevent getting our motorcycles stolen? It seemed like I had taken the necessary precautions, yet still lost two bikes. The 1980 Tour Glide that I bought right after my Low Rider was stolen is still in my possession, but I have been even more careful with it. I now keep it in my garage, and keep the garage doors locked. If I am away from home, and no garage or shed is available, I will typically camp outdoors, with my motorcycle right next to me and the wife. I avoid parking on side streets, instead staying on well travelled streets and roads when I am attending rallies and want to walk around a bit. In short, I get a little impulsive in protecting my motorcycle at all times.

The only advice I can give is to make sure you keep good locking mechanisms for your motorcycle with you at all times, and try to chain to something that is relatively immovable. Keep your motorcycle out of sight when you can (in a garage for example), and check on it often when you are out and about.

Entry Filed under: General Motorcycle