Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft

'73 H1 Triple · 11-04-2013, 10:55 PM

Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska man is getting his motorcycle back — 46 years after it was stolen from his backyard.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday the black and blue 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 was recovered last week at the Port of Los Angeles. It was on its way to Japan, with its value listed as $9,000.

The bike was reported stolen in February 1967. It was worth $300 then and wasn't insured.

The California Highway Patrol will return the bike to its original owner, who is now in his 70s and still lives in Omaha, Neb. His name was not released.

Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft | Odd Headlines | Comcast

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1953 Triumph Tiger

derf · 11-05-2013, 12:44 AM

Wow. Awesome

Trip · 11-05-2013, 07:11 AM

Some dude in Japan is really pissed the motorcycle he just bought isn't going to him. LoL

Particle Man · 11-05-2013, 09:59 AM

Sweet - but 46 years? Nice work, Columbo...

Rangerscott · 11-05-2013, 07:30 PM

Wouldnt be surprised if it sat in storage this whole time.

'73 H1 Triple · 11-06-2013, 09:53 PM

Man glad stolen motorcycle found after 46 years

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Donald DeVault wonders what kind of memories his Triumph motorcycle helped make in the 46 years since it was stolen, and he's looking forward to making more of his own when it's returned.

The 73-year-old Omaha man learned last week that California authorities had recovered his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 at the Port of Los Angeles. The bike was about to be shipped to Japan when U.S. Customs & Border Protection agents who checked the vehicle identification number discovered the motorcycle had been reported stolen in February 1967.

DeVault said he is eager to get the bike back, but he thinks investigators may be even more excited than him about the motorcycle's recovery. DeVault had had the bike for only a year or two when it was taken from his fenced backyard.

"I really want to protect it this time," DeVault said. "I'm sure there's people out there that would want to take it away."

The bike was valued at $300 when in 1967. The shipping documents listed its value today at $9,000.

DeVault already has a Harley-Davidson and a Kawasaki motorcycle in his garage, so he plans to reserve the Triumph for special rides.

DeVault said he's talked about the motorcycle over the years whenever he was around bikers. It had a couple features unusual for Triumphs made in the early 1950s, such as its hardtail frame.

DeVault recalls Marlon Brando riding a similar Triumph bike in the movie "The Wild One," and after that it seemed like everyone wanted to ride a motorcycle.

But DeVault said he was already riding motorcycles by the time the movie came out, and continued riding for much of his life.

What sold him on the Triumph was the blue color and the name "Li'l Blue Bitch" airbrushed on the side of the gas tank.

A friend with a trucking company is helping DeVault arrange to ship the motorcycle home from California.

Once he gets it back in a couple weeks, DeVault plans to have someone restore the bike's name and paint "46 Years Later" on the gas tank.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/...cle-Recovered/

XS2 · 11-07-2013, 08:46 PM

That's awesome that he's getting it back. But yeah, someone somewhere is losing a lot more than $300 on this bike!

11-04-2013, 10:55 PM	#1
'73 H1 Triple restorer of the original Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zionsville,PA Moto: '93 ZR1100 &'73 Kawasaki H1 500 Posts: 1,331	Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska man is getting his motorcycle back — 46 years after it was stolen from his backyard. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Monday the black and blue 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 was recovered last week at the Port of Los Angeles. It was on its way to Japan, with its value listed as $9,000. The bike was reported stolen in February 1967. It was worth $300 then and wasn't insured. The California Highway Patrol will return the bike to its original owner, who is now in his 70s and still lives in Omaha, Neb. His name was not released. Motorcycle recovered in Calif 46 years after theft \| Odd Headlines \| Comcast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1953 Triumph Tiger

11-05-2013, 12:44 AM	#2
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Wow. Awesome __________________

11-05-2013, 07:11 AM	#3
Trip Hold mah beer! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: 80 Miles South of Moto Heaven Moto: 08 R1200GS Posts: 23,268	Some dude in Japan is really pissed the motorcycle he just bought isn't going to him. LoL Last edited by Trip; 11-05-2013 at 07:21 AM..

11-06-2013, 09:53 PM	#6
'73 H1 Triple restorer of the original Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Zionsville,PA Moto: '93 ZR1100 &'73 Kawasaki H1 500 Posts: 1,331	Updated info Man glad stolen motorcycle found after 46 years OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Donald DeVault wonders what kind of memories his Triumph motorcycle helped make in the 46 years since it was stolen, and he's looking forward to making more of his own when it's returned. The 73-year-old Omaha man learned last week that California authorities had recovered his 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 at the Port of Los Angeles. The bike was about to be shipped to Japan when U.S. Customs & Border Protection agents who checked the vehicle identification number discovered the motorcycle had been reported stolen in February 1967. DeVault said he is eager to get the bike back, but he thinks investigators may be even more excited than him about the motorcycle's recovery. DeVault had had the bike for only a year or two when it was taken from his fenced backyard. "I really want to protect it this time," DeVault said. "I'm sure there's people out there that would want to take it away." The bike was valued at $300 when in 1967. The shipping documents listed its value today at $9,000. DeVault already has a Harley-Davidson and a Kawasaki motorcycle in his garage, so he plans to reserve the Triumph for special rides. DeVault said he's talked about the motorcycle over the years whenever he was around bikers. It had a couple features unusual for Triumphs made in the early 1950s, such as its hardtail frame. DeVault recalls Marlon Brando riding a similar Triumph bike in the movie "The Wild One," and after that it seemed like everyone wanted to ride a motorcycle. But DeVault said he was already riding motorcycles by the time the movie came out, and continued riding for much of his life. What sold him on the Triumph was the blue color and the name "Li'l Blue Bitch" airbrushed on the side of the gas tank. A friend with a trucking company is helping DeVault arrange to ship the motorcycle home from California. Once he gets it back in a couple weeks, DeVault plans to have someone restore the bike's name and paint "46 Years Later" on the gas tank. http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/...cle-Recovered/

11-05-2013, 09:59 AM	#4
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	Sweet - but 46 years? Nice work, Columbo...

11-05-2013, 07:30 PM	#5
Rangerscott Viff6N Mutated Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N Posts: 8,704	Wouldnt be surprised if it sat in storage this whole time.

11-07-2013, 08:46 PM	#7
XS2 Lurker Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Colorado Moto: XS750 Posts: 16	That's awesome that he's getting it back. But yeah, someone somewhere is losing a lot more than $300 on this bike!