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SALT LAKE CITY -- A motorcycle thief is targeting sellers who list their bikes on KSL Classifieds.
The Salt Lake City Police Department says two bikes were stolen when the owners let the thief take the bikes for test drives.
In both cases the motorcycles were listed on KSL Classifieds and the victims met the thief at the Gateway Mall. [CLICK HERE to read the fraud warning from KSL Classifieds]
"When they asked for ID, he said, ‘Well, I didn't have ID. I've got this cell phone. You can hold my cell phone.' He hands them one of those $15 disposable phones, pay as you go, and disappeared on the motorcycles," said Salt Lake police Detective Aaron Leavitt.
Leavitt says anyone selling a motorcycle should see the photo ID and even write all the information on it down.
The first motorcycle, a black 2008 Yamaha YZF R6 SXB was taken May 15. The second bike, a blue 2007 Yamaha YZF R6 SW was stolen five days later on May 20.
In both cases, the suspect identified himself as "Mike."
He is described as a black man in his mid-20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 200 pounds with an athletic build and short/buzzed black hair.
He was wearing diamond earrings in both cases, wearing a white shirt and jeans.
One victim said the suspect had multiple tattoos on both forearms.
Anyone with information on the suspect's identity or whereabouts is asked to call the Salt Lake City Police Department at 801-799-INFO (4636).
Callers may remain anonymous. Police ask you reference case #09-85773 and #09-88688.
