Scooter Theft Ring Suspects Arrested: 'It Was So Fast And Easy' Says Victim

DENVER (CBS4) - Police in Denver have made arrests in connection with a string of scooter thefts and recovered some of the stolen scooters.

Two men were arrested, accused in the scooter theft ring. Police say they stole dozens of scooters and motorcycles in the downtown area since January. Police were also able to recover some of the stolen scooters.

When scooters or motorcycles are stolen, owners rarely expect to see their bikes again. But in this case police say once the suspects were caught they led officers to their stash -- often in plain sight, parked in open lots -- until they sold them or made illegal trades.

Sean Duncan, 54, is one of the suspects. Police aren't releasing the other suspect's name. Police say Duncan and the other man were the driving force behind a 50 percent spike in scooter thefts in downtown Denver this year.

"With this group identified and these two in custody I think that these numbers (thefts) should stabilize," Detective Ryan Harris said.

Since Jan. 1, 62 scooters and motorcycles disappeared off city streets, parking lots and garages.

"To walk out and have it gone in just an instant is just a terrible feeling," said Debbie Finch, scooter theft victim.

Finch showed CBS4's Lauren DiSpirito video of how fast the crime can happen. It's not yet clear whether either of the men arrested are the thief in Finch's video.

"It was so fast and easy to do, it blew me away," Finch said.

Police think the crooks resold the bikes on a secondary market like craigslist -- or sold them for parts. Honda models, being the most expensive, are frequent targets.

"They were finding either other people on the street, or through friends or acquaintances, that they were selling them or trading them for other items," Harris said.

The suspects face aggravated auto theft charges. But just because the suspects were caught doesn't mean owners are in the clear. They are still encouraged to lock up the bikes.