Police seek suspects in East Northport ATV and dirt bike thefts

Two suspects slipped into a detached garage behind a Larkfield Road home in East Northport and stole three off-road vehicles in the early morning darkness, a theft that Suffolk County police say left the homeowner short $11,400 and neighbors with another reminder that storage space can be as vulnerable as a driveway.

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives said the theft happened on April 14, around 3 a.m., though another local account placed the time at about 3:15 a.m. The vehicles taken were a 2000 Honda ATV, a 2023 Honda dirt bike and a 2005 Kawasaki dirt bike. The suspects were captured on surveillance video as they entered the backyard and removed the machines.

The heist highlights why off-road vehicles are such tempting targets. ATVs and dirt bikes are compact enough to move quickly, valuable enough to resell, and often stored in garages or sheds away from the front of the house. In this case, the thieves did not need to force a vehicle off a street or trailer it from a visible location. They went straight to a detached garage, grabbed the equipment and disappeared before daybreak.

Police have not released descriptions of the suspects, and the investigation remains active. Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is seeking anonymous tips and says reward money is available for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information can call 1-800-220-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted through the P3 Tips mobile app or by using P3Tips.com.

For East Northport owners who keep ATVs, dirt bikes, golf carts or similar equipment at home, the surveillance footage offers a clear warning: a locked door alone may not be enough if the garage is detached and the machines are left visible or easy to roll out. Tonight, residents with off-road vehicles should make sure garages and side-yard access points are secured, keys are not left with the vehicles and security cameras are working and recording. In a case like this, minutes mattered, and the thieves appeared to know how quickly they could move.