Chicago police are actively searching for an unidentified white male in his 50s who is suspected of stealing at least eight electric scooters across multiple North Side neighborhoods since June 2026. Investigators say the suspect disables each scooter by removing its ignition, allowing the vehicles to be taken without triggering the key‑start security feature.
The thefts have been reported in the Bucktown, Lake View East, Uptown, Roscoe Village and Lincoln Square areas. Each incident involved a scooter that appeared to be in normal operating condition until the ignition was extracted, after which the device could no longer be started by the owner. Police reports indicate that the pattern of removal suggests a single individual rather than a series of unrelated opportunistic thefts.
Chicago Police Department officers have canvassed the affected neighborhoods, speaking with scooter owners, local businesses and residents to gather any additional information about the suspect’s appearance or movements. The department released a description limited to race, gender and approximate age, noting that the suspect has not been identified by name and no arrests have been made to date.
The investigation remains ongoing, with detectives reviewing surveillance footage from the locations where the scooters were reported missing. Police have asked anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity near the scooter parking spots or who captured video of a person handling a scooter’s ignition to contact the department.
The series of thefts highlights a method of bypassing the electronic lock systems that many shared‑mobility operators employ. By physically removing the ignition, the suspect circumvents the electronic lock, leaving owners without the ability to remotely locate or disable the scooter. The department continues to monitor the situation and urges the public to remain vigilant, especially when locking scooters in public areas.
Authorities have not disclosed any further details about the investigation’s progress, but they reaffirm their commitment to locating the individual responsible for the thefts and preventing additional incidents in the city’s North Side neighborhoods.