North Yorkshire Police have launched an appeal for information after a Vespa scooter was stolen from the Whitby area, releasing an image of the vehicle and details about the incident as officers seek to trace those responsible.
What happened
The scooter, carrying the registration LG61 LRF, was taken sometime between 5pm on Aug. 4 and 3pm on Aug. 5. Police noted that the vehicle had a black seat cover and that the windscreen had been removed prior to or at the time of the theft.
How residents can help
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the scooter in the Whitby area during the time window, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage that may show movement of the vehicle, to come forward. The force has laid out multiple ways to contact them and to provide information.
- Email: Ed Chatland at [email protected]
- Online: Visit the North Yorkshire Police website and select ‘Tell us about’, then choose ‘An existing case or report’
- Live chat: Available via the North Yorkshire Police website, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
- Telephone: If online options are not available, call North Yorkshire Police on 101
- Anonymous reporting: Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or submit information via their website
“The scooter had a black seat cover and the windscreen was removed,” the police spokesperson said.
Reference and identification details
Police have provided a reference number for anyone who wishes to pass on information about the theft.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | Vespa scooter |
| Registration | LG61 LRF |
| Stolen between | 5pm Aug. 4 and 3pm Aug. 5 |
| Police reference | 12260150920 |
Local context and consequences
While the force has not provided further details about suspects or motive, vehicle thefts such as this can have an outsized effect on local residents. Scooters are a common form of short-distance transport in coastal towns and rural-edge communities, where public-transport links may be limited and private vehicles are relied on for work and errands. The loss of a commuter scooter can therefore present immediate practical and financial disruption for an owner.
Releasing images and registration details is a routine investigative step intended both to aid identification and to prompt members of the public to check any footage or sightings. In addition to directly assisting police, timely information can help Crimestoppers and other reporting services identify trends or link incidents across a wider area.
What to watch for
Officers are likely to be interested in sightings of the specific registration LG61 LRF, any Vespa with a missing windscreen, or scooters matching the description with a black seat cover. Residents with home CCTV, doorbell cameras, business CCTV, or dashcam footage are asked to review recordings from the stated time window and to report anything that appears relevant.
Anyone who can help is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police online in the first instance, or by phone if online methods are not possible. To provide information anonymously, members of the public can contact Crimestoppers and quote the police reference 12260150920.
