PHILLIPSTON — Police are actively investigating the theft of 17 motorized dirt bikes early Wednesday morning at Cycle Design.

According to Cycle Design Manager Jayma Wilkins, the security company for the store notified her at 2:47 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2, that someone had broken in to the store. Wilkins said a motion sensor recorded a window being broken an hour earlier.

Staff arrived at around the time of the notification to find a side window completely destroyed and 17 dirt bikes stolen, along with a U-Haul van and several sets of goggles. Wilkins said the bikes are valued at more than $100,000 in total.

“They (the bikes) don’t have keys, which makes them easy to steal,” Wilkins said.

On Friday an announcement was posted to Cycle Design’s Facebook page that eight of the bikes had been recovered by police. It’s too soon to say how damaged the vehicles are and if they can be re-sold. Wilkins said there has been a tremendous outpouring of support, with people stopping in to see how the staff is doing. She praised Cycle Design employees for staying throughout the day of the theft to clean up the damage.

“It’s quite an outpouring and very heartwarming,” Wilkins said of the public’s response.

The dirt bikes yet to be recovered are 2023 and 2024 Yamaha YZ, Honda CRF and Suzuki DRZ models. If anyone has information they can contact Cycle Design at 978-249-2244 or the Phillipston Police.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or mbowen@recorder.com.

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