Osteen, FL - A man who faked the theft of his 2020 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special last month was found out by video surveillance. Volusia Sheriff's Office (VSO) investigators say that 27-year-old Jeffrey Stephens, a.k.a. Brad, set up the “theft” in order to get a $30,000 insurance payout.
Stephens reported the bike stolen from Fox Head Lounge on S.R. 415 on September 25, 2021. He told investigators that he left it there overnight Friday into Saturday while he took an Uber home. He said when he came back Saturday to pick it up, the Harley was gone from its parking spot.
According to VSO Public Information Officer Andrew Gant, "detectives noticed it seemed Stephens had parked the bike as far away as possible from the Fox Head’s cameras. But he inadvertently parked it in view of a surveillance camera at nearby Skip’s Boots." When they reviewed that footage, Stephens was sitting outside facing the motorcycle when a vehicle pulled up. Someone got on the Harley and rode away.
The driver of the vehicle that pulled up was identified and interviewed. He told them that Stephens planned the theft, meeting with him afterward, stripping down the Harley of valuables and disconnecting a GPS device. Phone records showed that he and Stephens were connected by text messaging at the time of the alleged theft.
VSO kept Stephens insurance company in the loop. They denied his claim and the motorcycle has not been found.
Stephens is charged with insurance fraud, tampering with evidence and providing false information to law enforcement. He's out of jail on a $20,500 bond.
