A theft victim alerted police after he spotted his stolen motorcycle advertised for sale on the Internet.

The tip led officers on Thursday to four suspects and a Waipahu auto body shop where they recovered about $250,000 worth of suspected stolen motorcycles.

“;The investigation evolved to the execution of a search warrant on a nearby business, leading to the discovery of a significant amount of stolen vehicles,”; police Capt. Sean Naito said.

The Honolulu Police Department displayed the 32 motorcycles, most of which were street sport bikes, at the Kapolei station yesterday. Police also confiscated firearms.

The 32 motorcycles had defaced serial numbers, but 18 were confirmed stolen as of yesterday, police said. The motorcycles had new, bogus serial numbers stamped on them, police said.

Police did not identify the Waipahu auto body shop, but one of four suspects, a 23-year-old man, was arrested at Twin's Auto Body at 94-252 Pupuole St.

Two men, both 24-year-old downtown Honolulu residents, were arrested Thursday afternoon at a nearby auto parts store on Farrington Highway on suspicion of second-degree theft and alteration of motor vehicle serial numbers. One of the suspects is named as the agent of Twin's Auto Body LLC, according to Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs records.

Police also arrested another man, in his 20s, on suspicion of fourth-degree theft, but did not say where the arrest occurred.

Twin's Auto Body has a MySpace page that lists the 24-year-old suspects' names, shows photos of numerous motorcycles like the ones police recovered and boasts it has repaired them.

Officers from HPD's Auto Theft Detail were assisted by the police Pearl City Crime Reduction Unit and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a nonprofit company that assists police.

The motorcycles appear to be used but in good condition, said John Dela Vega, of the bureau. Thieves often pick up motorcycles, load them into the back of a van or pickup truck and drive off, he said.

Dela Vega called it a “;significant haul.”;

“;They say property crime is a victimless crime, but here are 32 victims,”; he said. The insurance companies might be able to recoup some of their losses, but “;it impacts all of us,”; he said.

Naito warned that anyone who purchases a motor vehicle with a defaced serial number could also face criminal charges. He urged buyers to be wary if a vehicle is being sold well below market value.

Naito said sport-type motorcycles range in value from $5,000 to $12,000. If the 32 are worth an estimated average of $8,000 each, they could be worth $256,000 in all.

On Oahu, motor vehicle thefts, including motorcycles, were down 41 percent in 2008 from 2007.