Police investigate after three motorcycles taken, two stolen from same motel

Myrtle Beach police are investigating after three motorcycles recently were stolen — two of which were taken from the same hotel parking lot, according to police reports.

Officers were called to the Viking Motel at 1811 S. Ocean Blvd. where a 26-year-old man and a 24-year-old man each reported separate theft incidents, police said.

The 26-year-old victim told police he last saw his black and yellow, 2006 Kawasaki motorcycle about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in the parking lot where he left it. When he woke up later that morning, his bike was missing, authorities said.

The 26-year-old victim said he called local tow companies to make sure it hadn’t been towed, and none of the companies he contacted had the bike, police said.

The 24-year-old victim told police he last saw his black, 2011 Kawasaki motorcycle about 2 a.m. Tuesday in the motel lot where he parked it. When he woke up, he also realized his bike was missing.

The 24-year-old victim also called tow companies, asking if his bike had been towed, but it had not, authorities said.

Police said surveillance footage from a neighboring hotel showed a dark, Ford sports utility vehicle with a trailer attached arrive at the parking lot about 3:40 a.m. Tuesday.

The SUV then backed up to the area where the victims’ bikes were kept.

Police got a copy of the surveillance footage and were still investigating the incidents Wednesday morning.

Officers also were called about a stolen motorcycle about 5 a.m. Sunday to the Landmark parking garage at 1502 S. Ocean Blvd.

A 30-year-old man told police that he parked his 2007 Honda motorcycle at the Landmark parking garage on level five about 11:30 p.m. Saturday and when he went back to the garage about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, his bike was missing, authorities said.

The victim told police he is visiting from out of town and did not give anyone permission to use his bike.

Police entered the motorcycle’s description into their information systems and listed it as stolen. The victim provided officers with a picture of his motorcycle, which was emailed to other authorities.

Officers have also entered descriptions of the other bikes into their information systems and listed them as stolen too.

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Police investigate after three motorcycles taken, two stolen from same motel."