CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A group of motorcycle thieves got more than they bargained for at Appleton Harley-Davidson overnight Friday, learning the hard way that if you manage to break in, that doesn’t mean you can easily get back out.
“These people just went in and went shopping,” said Tia Suiter, owner of the dealership on the U.S. 41A Bypass.
The five burglars did manage to get away with three motorcycles, but getting out took so long that two riders had to give up and make a run for it, as police were on the way.
Early morning break-in
At about 3 a.m. Saturday, the thieves broke in one of the side doors. Once inside, the plan was apparently to ride off with five bikes. But when they tried to leave, they discovered that there’s no way out without a key, Suiter told Clarksville Now.
They had to ram one of the bikes repeatedly into a front door to break it. Three of the thieves made it out on motorcycles, but one bike got stuck in the door, and another was trapped behind it.
The two failed thieves can be seen on video running from the scene, Suiter said.
2 bikes on consignment
Sadly, of the three motorcycles stolen, two were on consignment and one of those was a CVO, or custom-made motorcycle.
“That was a call our manager didn’t want to make,” Suiter said. “That was a heavy hit.”
The customer was very understanding, she said. Both customers have insurance, but Appleton is trying to find a way to make sure they’re fully covered.
It’s particularly painful to see something like this happen to customers who are soldiers and veterans, she said. “We serve some of America’s finest people in Clarksville,” Suiter said. “They’re already out serving our country.”
But of course, she said, that wouldn’t matter to thieves.
Dealers hit in several states
Twelve Harley Davidson dealerships have been hit in the last several months, and Appleton is the first in Middle Tennessee, with three of those in the last 30 days, Suiter said. The other dealerships are in Illinois, Indiana, Alabama and Kentucky.
While all of the dealerships have high-tech video surveillance systems, particularly Appleton, the thieves have come in wearing motorcycle helmets.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and officials from other states are investigating.
Tough time for dealerships
It’s a particularly hard time for the dealerships to lose motorcycles.
“I don’t want to say any time is a good time to be robbed,” Suiter said, but like most dealerships right now, there’s not much on the lot. “We have no inventory. We have nothing in the showroom.”
Appleton has been in business for 70 years, and this is the second time they’ve had a burglary. The first was at their prior location on Madison Street.
Despite the loss, Suiter is trying to look at the bright side.
“I feel blessed no one was injured or hurt. I feel blessed that we only lost three bikes,” Suiter said. “I’m very happy that the employees weren’t there and this didn’t happen during open hours. We love our employees and we love our community.”
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or with information about the theft should call 911.