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Gainesville Police Department has identified two men involved with motorcycle thefts

By Chip Skambis

Motorcycle Theft

A Gainesville Police Department investigation has identified two individuals in connection with recent motorcycle thefts near the Southwest 20th Avenue area.

Daniel Roane, 21, admitted to stealing eight motorcycles, according to a news release from the Gainesville Police Department. Roane faces 24 counts of grand theft auto, dealing in stolen property and conspiracy to commit grand theft auto.

Larry Eugene Stone, 41, is suspected to be the person responsible for planning the thefts and making plans for selling the motorcycles throughout the state. Stone has not been located, but he has three active arrest warrants for grand theft auto, conspiracy and dealing in stolen property, according to the GPD news release.

Suzuki GSX-R and Honda CBR models were specific targets at various student apartment complexes.

"They would actually brag that they could start them within 30 seconds without any kind of damage to the motorcycles or the ignition cylinders," GPD officer Ben Tobias said.

GPD said most of the stolen motorcycles were transported to Lake City or Lakeland, where they were sold for parts or exchanged for methamphetamine.

Motorcycle owners are encouraged to use a chain or disc lock to reduce the likelihood of their property being stolen.
Cassandra Vangellow wrote this story online. 

Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org
Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org