Posted on 11/06/2013 1:24:31 AM PST by South40
In February of 1967, a 1953 Triumph Tiger 100 motorcycle was stolen from a man's backyard in Omaha, Nebraska. More than 45 years later, that same bike was found by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at a Los Angeles port.
The bike had been on its way to Yokohama, Japan when authorities from Customs decided to take a closer look, the Orange County Register reported. Upon seeing that bike's vehicle identification number (VIN) matched a bike that was reported stolen way back when, agents seized the bike.
The bike, estimated to be worth around $9,000, was then sent to California Highway Patrol who tracked down the owner, now 72 and still living in Nebraska.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Customs has access to records from 1967????
Amazing. Interesting to read about the owner’s reaction.
Remember that when making electronic communications. Nothing is deleted.
OK, I understand but for the officials to dig that far back is pretty amazing, no?
In 1967 records were hand-typed. If they electronically stored them then that’s great. I am still amazed at their efforts.
But of course the statute of limitations has run out on that crime so the person in Japan who purchased the bike or the individual who is trying to sell the bike is out the money they paid for the bike and any money put in to restoration.
Somewhere along the way somebody must have falsified a title and that might be able to be prosecuted.
Yes but while the Federal Government is known for it's waste, it's also known for not throwing anything away.
In 1967 records were hand-typed. If they electronically stored them then that’s great. I am still amazed at their efforts.
I wouldn't be surprised if they were manually converted into electronic records long before modern scanning and OCR technology was available.
Well, remember microfilm and microfische?
The bike must have been in mint condition and a real beaut for them to have been so interested. What is the follow up on this story? Is it a major theft ring operating between wealthy Japanese people and US underworld? Anybody know? Any arrests?
Unless it is something that is truly priceless
Like the video tape of the first moon landing.
Like the plans and specs for the Saturn 5.
You can tell if the microfiche are getting sick ‘cause there’s this microfilm on the water.
Omaha.com spoke with the bike’s owner, Donald R. Devault, who explained that the bike used to look a lot different. “Back then it was baby blue and it looked like a little toy chopper,” he said.
He told the paper that he’s looking forward to the reunion. “I’m going to ask her, ‘Where have you been?’ I bet there’s a lot stories she could tell me,” he told Omaha.com. “I wish she could talk because a lot’s happened in 46 years.”
No surprises there.
LOL. You have a large image inventory. Very nice. BTW how does one insert pictures into a thread?
There is a guy running around the West Coast buying up shovel and pan heads as fast as he can a shipping them to Asia. One of his deals is you have to have the bike checked by the cops to see if it was stolen and get a clean title to it. Guess he got burned a time or two.
My military records were destroyed i n a fire in St. Louis in 1973, if they hadn't been stored on micro film in D.C., there would have been nothing to show that I had ever served.
It took me about 6 months to get my DD214 in 1975, in order to get a V.A. loan.
Jump forward to about 2007 when I needed it again for S.S. and it took me about 3 days to get it.
Not sure what records they referred to, as NCIC computer records for auto theft (motorcycles also) are purged not long after the most recent registration expires. They do not remain on the “hot list” like firearms, which stay forever.
Yes but while the Federal Government is known for it’s waste, it’s also known for not throwing anything away.
That ^
I was able to do an online look up the serial number on a WWI vintage M1917 rifle (AKA “American Enfield”).
The federal government is also known for recordkeeping.
Sure wish I could get my moms 67 fastback returned. She lost the title in 74(my dad had just burned to death in a home fire) and never tried to get it back. She thinks the title was stolen when she left her purse in the ladies room. Such is life.
I’ve got a chopped 67 bonny sitting in the barn.
Guess it’s time to market the thing.
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