Flock Cameras Help Police Recover Motorcycle Stolen During Facebook Marketplace Test Drive

CONROE, TX -- Officers responded to a report of a stolen motorcycle following a Facebook Marketplace meetup at a local apartment complex on FM 1488.

The victim had listed the motorcycle for sale and agreed to allow a prospective buyer to take it for a test drive within the apartment complex. Instead, the suspect left the complex on the motorcycle and fled eastbound on FM 1488. The person who had arrived with the suspect also drove away, and the victim immediately called 911. Details provided on scene were limited, leaving officers with little to work with.

Using Flock cameras and other investigative tools, Officers located images of the stolen motorcycle and identified a Chevrolet Malibu connected to the theft. Several images showed the Malibu traveling closely behind the motorcycle.

Officers determined that the motorcycle was last seen in Flock images entering Lake Conroe Village. Officers later went to the area and began searching the neighborhood. During the search, a motorcycle covered by a tarp was in the front yard of a residence. After receiving the homeowner’s consent to remove the tarp, Officers confirmed it was the stolen motorcycle.

Thanks to outstanding investigative work and effective use of Flock and other investigative tools, the motorcycle was located, recovered, and returned to its rightful owner. Without these tools, combined with Officers' follow-up investigation, this case may have gone unsolved.

Just a reminder: When buying or selling items through Facebook Marketplace or other online platforms, consider meeting at a designated Safe Exchange Zone or police department whenever possible.