How the theft of six motocycles could have been prevented

How a Simple Wheel Lock Could Have Stopped a Costly Motorcycle Theft

It was supposed to be a regular Friday morning for Jim Wilson, the owner of Ride On Motorcycle Training, a small business based in Aurora, Colorado, that’s dedicated to teaching motorcycle safety. But when he arrived at the storage containers near Rangeview High School—where his training bikes were kept—he noticed something off. The steel door to the 40-foot container was slightly ajar. Jim’s stomach sank.

“I opened it up, and half our motorcycles were gone,” he recalled. “My heart dropped.”

Six motorcycles—worth over $22,000 combined—had vanished overnight. All of them used to teach new riders how to navigate the road safely. The loss was more than just financial—it was a direct blow to Ride On’s mission: making Colorado roads safer by reducing motorcycle fatalities through education and training.

Colorado had already seen a devastating spike in motorcycle deaths the previous year, and Jim’s work was part of the solution. “We’re trying to help the public,” he said. “These bikes were meant to teach people how to ride safely, to build their skills. Losing them doesn’t just hurt us—it hurts everyone who needs that training.”

Surveillance footage from Aurora Public Schools later revealed how the crime unfolded. Two individuals in dark clothing broke into the heavy-duty lockbox containing the motorcycle keys. A third accomplice joined them as they systematically wheeled and rode the bikes away, returning multiple times to grab more.

Jim suspects the thieves had been watching. “It seemed they knew exactly what they were doing,” he said. “They probably saw us out here doing classes and figured out where we kept the bikes.”

But here’s the thing—this entire theft could likely have been stopped with a simple, powerful device: the California Immobilizer Protector Wheel Lock.

Unlike ordinary locks, the California Immobilizer Protector is a heavy-duty, tamper-resistant wheel lock that physically prevents a motorcycle from being rolled or ridden. Even if a thief has the keys—or even hot-wires the ignition—the bike isn’t going anywhere unless the lock is removed. It’s built with hardened steel, resistant to cutting tools, and brightly colored to deter theft on sight. It’s the kind of visual and physical deterrent that makes criminals think twice.

Had each of the six bikes been secured with a California Immobilizer, the thieves would’ve faced not just a locked container, but a time-consuming, noisy obstacle on every single motorcycle. They wouldn’t have been able to walk the bikes out, and they certainly couldn’t have ridden them away. The added layer of security could have turned this crime of opportunity into a failed attempt.

Now, Jim is left hoping for the return of the stolen motorcycles and picking up the pieces of his disrupted classes. One bike has been recovered. The rest are still missing.

To would-be thieves, Jim has only this to say: “You’re doing a disservice to people trying to save lives.”

And to motorcycle owners everywhere: don’t wait for a loss to think about protection. A California Immobilizer might just be the difference between waking up to a nightmare—or sleeping peacefully knowing your ride is safe.