Monson police warn of increase in dirt bike, ATV thefts in area
MONSON, Mass. (WWLP) – The Monson Police Department is urging residents to lock their vehicles and keep their valuables in safe locations due to an increase in attempted dirt bike and ATV thefts in the area.
On April 18 at approximately 1:18 a.m., the department's Flock camera system alerted officers to a white Ford pickup truck driving into town on Wilbraham Road. The truck had been reported stolen, and officers engaged the vehicle in two pursuits before it was seen driving back into Wilbraham.
Suspicious vehicle in Hadley shopping plaza led to the arrest of two people with warrants
Monson Police said that individuals have been using stolen SUVs and pickup trucks to steal ATVs and dirt bikes in the area, and that they believe that officers prevented the truck from committing thefts that night.
On Saturday at around 1:24 a.m., police were alerted by Flock camera system to a stolen black Volkswagen Passat driving north into downtown Monson. An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but it drove away and was last seen at the intersection of Main and High Streets. The vehicle was reported stolen from a Longmeadow home on April 4 and was connected to several vehicle break-ins in Monson, Wilbraham, and Palmer on April 13.
Later that day, police discovered that a vehicle on South Monson Road in Hampden had been broken into and a purse had been stolen. A Bumstead Road resident also reported that his Ring camera recorded three suspects checking the doors of a car parked in his driveway at around 1 a.m.
The Monson Police Department is reminding all residents to lock their vehicles every night, removing all valuables from the inside, including spare key fobs. Those who own dirt bikes or ATVs are urged to be cautious when posting on social media regarding their vehicles and to check for tracking devices such as AirTags when attending off-road vehicle-related events.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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