Customs Agents Seize Vintage Motorcycle Stolen In 1967
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A vintage 1953 Triumph motorcycle that was stolen nearly a half-century ago has been recovered, federal investigators said Monday.
On Oct. 30, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) enforcement officers at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport complex seized the motorcycle, which was reported stolen from its owner's backyard in Omaha, Nebraska, during the night of February 4 or 5, 1967, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said.
Destined to Yokohama, Japan, the blue- and black-colored Tiger T 100 model bike, which has a manifested value of approximately $9,000, had a value of about $300 when an Omaha patrolman filed a stolen vehicle report over 46 years earlier, according to DHS officials.
Customs agents seized the vehicle and turned it over to California Highway Patrol to return to its rightful owner, who is approximately 72 years old and still lives in Omaha, officials said.
"CBP officers and their law enforcement counterparts check many outbound vehicles on a regular basis. Their success in recovering stolen vehicles is remarkable," said Todd C. Owen, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles. "A few have nice stories like this one."
The motorcycle was one of three vehicles stolen at least 20 years ago that has recently been intercepted by CBP, according to Owen.
