Police seek classified-ads motorcycle thief

Salt Lake police are asking for help to catch a motorcycle thief targeting people on an online classifieds Web site.

Police said a man selling a 2008 Yamaha YZF R6 SXB motorcycle on KSL.com met with the thief at The Gateway mall on May 15.

"The victim stated he allowed the suspect to take the bike for a test drive, but the suspect never returned," Salt Lake police said in a statement Thursday.

Police were contacted about a similar theft at the mall on Wednesday, when the victim stated he also met a man to show him his blue 2007 Yamaha YZF R6 SW motorcycle, which was listed for sale on the same Web site.

Police said the thief identified himself as "Mike" and is described as black, in his mid-20s, about 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds with an athletic build and short, buzzed black hair. He was wearing diamond earrings and is believed to have multiple tattoos on his forearms. Anyone with information is urged to call police at 801-799-4636.

— Ben Winslow