Lime E Scooter thefts on the rise across Green Country

The green Lime E Scooters scattered around town are a fun way to get around town, but no cheap investment. In the last two weeks, Lime reports about five of their scooters have disappeared in Tulsa.

Each scooter costs about a thousand dollars each. The battery they use to power them runs for $250.

Lime tells 2 News they are down four to five scooters and 15 batteries.

Sunday morning, a Lime employee was doing maintenance to some local bikes and saw a man riding a scooter that had been painted blue to disguise it. Lime tells us the man also had two batteries in his backpack.

Tulsan Richard Malhoit said he and his son rode the scooters for the first time just last week.

"I just think it's crazy, I don't know, it sucks that people take advantage of everything good that we have," said Malhoit. "Hopefully, they stop doing that so people can continue to enjoy them."

Most of the disappearances, a Lime representative said, have taken place within a mile radius of Admiral and Delaware St.

Stealing the entire scooter, though, doesn't seem like a well-thought-out scheme to Malhoit.

"You have to hook up a credit card to them, so it would seem kind of foolish to take one after that because wouldn’t they charge your card?” he said.

The parks system was crowded on a summer weekend in Green Country. Shaya Lehman and Jack Appenvellar went for a ride before 2 News spoke to them.

“Just a recreational thing to do, you know, get out of the house, not have to sit and watch TV," said Appenvellar.

Appenvellar said he had not noticed a shortage of scooters, as his primary pickup point is at 41st and Riverside.

Lime said they have reached out to Tulsa police for help, but it's a tricky process because they are GPS-tracked.

Since they cost over a thousand dollars, including the battery, anyone caught with a stolen scooter could be charged with a felony.

If anyone sees a stray scooter or knows anything about the thefts, they are encouraged to call TPD's tip line at 918-596-COPS or they can email Lime Tulsa directly at help-tulsa@li.me

More from 2 News Oklahoma

• PROTECTIONS: New law to protect the elderly from Medicare fraud

  Clifton Haskin

  5:48 PM, Jun 30, 2024

• Tulsa police searching for suspect in murder at hotel near 51st and Yale

  Matthew Hubbard

  11:51 AM, Jun 30, 2024

• City of Tulsa to open Residential Care center, aims for fall opening

  Matthew Hubbard

  9:42 PM, Jun 29, 2024

• Owen Park Community Center holds grand re-opening

  Clifton Haskin

  7:02 PM, Jun 29, 2024

Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --

• Download our free app for Apple , Android and Kindle devices.
• Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram
• SUBSCRIBE on YouTube