Hoeselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Multiple Vespas for sale have been reported stolen in Hoeselt and Hoepertingen, prompting concern and investigations across Bilzen and Tongeren regions.
The thieves took the scooters during a test drive while pretending to be prospective buyers. Whether the same offender or offenders were involved is unknown.
On Facebook Marketplace, Wendy van der Borght of Hoeselt, Belgium, listed her red Vespa for sale. The prospective buyer visited her home on Friday afternoon following a few messages.
“He was a very normal guy. He asked if it was damaged anywhere, if I was the original owner, if I wanted to start it… the obvious things.”
The young man wanted to take a test drive.
“At first, I refused, but he offered to give me his jacket, cell phone, and earbuds to build trust. So I let him take a spin in the driveway, but before I knew it, he’d taken off with the Vespa.”
Wendy drove her car to look for the thief, but to no avail.
“So I filed a police report. I handed over the jacket, the phone, and the earphones. The jacket and earphones turned out to be counterfeit. The phone was locked and there was no SIM card in it.”
In Hoepertingen, a potential buyer also stole a gray Vespa during a test drive on Monday evening, reports Het Belang van Limburg. The perpetrator pledged a counterfeit smartphone to the owner, Marleen, but it turned out to be fake.
“The perpetrator is still at large,”
confirms the Haspengouw police district.
Wendy is now scouring every sales site for her Vespa.
“I’m looking every day, including for Vespa parts. But so far without success,”
she says.
How effective are current security measures against scooter thefts in these areas?
Current security measures in areas like Hoeselt and Hoepertingen to prevent scooter theft, including Vespas, are designed to make stealing more difficult and less attractive to thieves, although no system can completely guarantee prevention.
Authorities and experts recommend a multi-layered approach combining physical security, parking habits, and technological solutions to maximize effectiveness.
Physically, high-quality locks—such as hardened steel U-locks and heavy-duty chain locks—are key deterrents.
Best practice involves securing the scooter through both the frame and wheels to an immovable object like a sturdy bike stand or lamppost. Using multiple locks forces thieves to invest more time and risk to steal the vehicle, reducing the likelihood of opportunistic thefts.
