[wccrawford]

One needs a key to start it up. You can cut a chain to free a bike, but hot-wiring a moped will take longer and be more noticeable.

[jordinl]

you just need a van an three guys to lift the moped and put it inside the van. It definitely happens in Barcelona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atJuzEhkRDg

http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/20160802/4036244...

[munificent]

But if you close all the streets to auto traffic, you can't get the van there. Checkmate!

[JohaRiz]

Mopeds are considered auto traffic.. Checkmate?

But actually, super blocks aren't closed to traffic, they enforce slow traffic speeds -- like 5MPH. A van could still cruise by at 5MPH and steal a moped, but it would be super obvious in a crowded super block.

[ascagnel_]

In terms of the obviousness of a crime, is there any word as to correlation or causation for street crime vs. pedestrian traffic? My gut says that busier streets lead to fewer crimes, but I'd like to see numbers on that.

[13of40]

Modern Vespas actually have an immobilizer device that prevents the scooter from working without the right transponder key, so it's even more difficult than just "hot-wiring" them.