Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Should I recover my stolen wheel?

I was just riding into work right now (graveyard), on my way to work I ride under a bridge a block away from work. Under the bridge live a couple of homeless folk, some of which have bikes (mountain bikes/cruiser/bmx/childrensbikes). While I was passing by I happened to glance over and what did I see? My front wheel which had been stolen a month earlier! Mother F*ckers! It looked like they had gotten a flat since.
This was just 10 minutes ago, my wheel was stolen from my bike about a month ago (I didn't lock up the front wheel, I do now of course). It's a dura ace hub laced with aero spokes to an araya aero rim. I got it sooo cheap off ebay. I don't know what to do, I want my wheel back. But there's like 20 of these guys and one of me. Plus I think there's a couple families living under there. Most of us have had something stolen from us. The anger! F*ckers deserve to die! I don't know what kind of people they are, I know they're poor, but I've seen them watching tv under that bridge. So what the f*ck!? I understand they need to get around, but that's no excuse to steel people's wheels!
I don't even know if I could recover this wheel without someone getting harmed.

I mean, they stole it from you, be like "fair is fair."

I kid. I don't know. This is a complicated situation for sure.

They definately don't deserve to die just because they stole a wheel from you. They don't deserve your wheel either though. If there's a way to safely get it back I'd go for it. If not, don't. Have the police escort you down there to go get it?

They definately don't deserve to die just because they stole a wheel from you. They don't deserve your wheel either though. If there's a way to safely get it back I'd go for it. If not, don't. Have the police escort you down there to go get it?
I thought about that, but the police probably wouldn't do that, and if they did they would probably kick them out of there. Plus these guys probably know where I work and where I lock up(which sucks!).

This sounds like a job for T.I.P.

She had both her wheels stolen and went back the next day with u-lock in hand and the homeless people gave them back.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=128595&highlight=stolen

Get your ass down there and get it And if its on a bike take that to. If I had of seen my wheel there... They would be calling the cops.

just get a crappy wheel as a replacement so they won't have to steal another wheel. bring them the replacement wheel and some food as a jesture of kindness so they don't attack you. obviously you're not the winner in this situation. but you have to remember these people are stealing stuff from individuals anyways, so morals aren't exactly at the top of thier list. its probably more important that you get wheel back then making a point.

Too late I just went down there and bought it for 5 bucks!

Dont involve the police. Truth is you probably cannot prove that it is yours. ULOCK idea would work better for a woman. You could have a friend with a cell phone lurking in case you get some crazy homeless guy that was released during the regan era. Just go down and ask, (with your friend lurking). Try to be more of a person than someone to beg from. You'd probably steel the wheel if you where in that guy's place.

Or you could just do the christian thing and bring a whole bike. Get it from a local free ride. Go down and ask for the owner of the wheel. If no one steps up then say well it must b mine. Then leave the bike.

What the hell are you doing not locking such a good wheel? Next time a college student will get it.

I was just riding into work right now (graveyard), on my way to work I ride under a bridge a block away from work. Under the bridge live a couple of homeless folk, some of which have bikes (mountain bikes/cruiser/bmx/childrensbikes). While I was passing by I happened to glance over and what did I see? My front wheel which had been stolen a month earlier! Mother F*ckers! It looked like they had gotten a flat since.
This was just 10 minutes ago, my wheel was stolen from my bike about a month ago (I didn't lock up the front wheel, I do now of course). It's a dura ace hub laced with aero spokes to an araya aero rim. I got it sooo cheap off ebay. I don't know what to do, I want my wheel back. But there's like 20 of these guys and one of me. Plus I think there's a couple families living under there. Most of us have had something stolen from us. The anger! F*ckers deserve to die! I don't know what kind of people they are, I know they're poor, but I've seen them watching tv under that bridge. So what the f*ck!? I understand they need to get around, but that's no excuse to steel people's wheels!
I don't even know if I could recover this wheel without someone getting harmed.

Get some backup and go and bust some heads

don't be an ass about it...
like someone said...they def don't deserve to die (or anything near it) for stealing your wheel...in fact...'s your bad that you got your wheel stolen in the first place...sounds like you left it unlocked

I would go down there and not be a prick (NO COPS; no condesention) and ask for the wheel back....****...you might even be able to buy it back for REAL cheap...

but...when push comes to shove...is it even worth busting someone's head to get your cheap wheel back (or any wheel at that)...or is it worth getting YOUr head busted to get the wheel? NO

just go down there and ask them for it back nicely

Offer them $10 and get it back. No reason to get shivved!

dress up homeless, sneak in at night, grab it and run.

If you got a pic of the wheel on your bike. Print it out and take it down there to show them it was yours and you would want them to just give it back rather then call the cops on them. Ohh and go with a few big friends just incase.

More then likely they will not want any trouble and just say for you to take it. A lot of homeless people mean no harm, they are just trying to find anyway to make a $ so they can eat.. Hell.. Take them a few cans of food for it.. They might just take it.

don't give anyone anything to get something back that was stolen from you.

put in a call and rally the troops, go in and get your sht back bro, or let it go.

now not that i advocate violence, but in this case it really just comes down to how bad you want your wheel back, due to the close proximity to your work? that really becomes the larger issue, since you are in this area daily and late night since retaliation would probably happen while you're alone...

crossroads kid, most of these people are punks, and you could simply stroll in with mr louisville and would probably not have to beat down more than 2, its not like they have much heart afterall, or they would be taking their place in normal society, mentally ill or not.

again giving someone anything to get back something they stole from you makes you their btich, and anytime they feel the need to do so, they'll take something else off your bike, or maybe one day figure thats not enough and then try to rob you, it will not gain you one bit of respect even if it gets you item back-

don't give anyone anything to get something back that was stolen from you.

put in a call and rally the troops, go in and get your sht back bro, or let it go.

now not that i advocate violence, but in this case it really just comes down to how bad you want your wheel back, due to the close proximity to your work? that really becomes the larger issue, since you are in this area daily and late night since retaliation would probably happen while you're alone...

crossroads kid, most of these people are punks, and you could simply stroll in with mr louisville and would probably not have to beat down more than 2, its not like they have much heart afterall, or they would be taking their place in normal society, mentally ill or not.

again giving someone anything to get back something they stole from you makes you their btich, and anytime they feel the need to do so, they'll take something else off your bike, or maybe one day figure thats not enough and then try to rob you, it will not gain you one bit of respect even if it gets you item back-

i totaly don't think there is any way to settle this peacefully, most of these people are drunks/crack heads. there are at least 20 of them sleeping in tents (or diy tents) on each side of the street. i can't call the cops cause i can't prove that it's mine and the cops here hate dealing with the homeless (other cops from diffrent cities have actualy been dumping their homeless in LA's downtown (http://prorev.com/2005/09/suburban-cops-dumping-homeless-in-la.htm) . im getting some friends together to help me get the wheel back. those guys sleep during the day, i passed by several times last night and they were still awake. so i have to get it in the day time and just make a run for it

if i don't succed in retriving the wheel, ill post the location so any other la residents and have a go at it. if i can't have it, they can't either!

shoot first ask questions later

there are at least 20 of them sleeping in tents (or diy tents) on each side of the street.

*Tangent*

Ok so I'm newer here in LA and I was out on a Midnite Ridazzz and we rode past all these tents on the sidewalk. So I asked another rider if that was normal. He said I must not be from there, but that's where and how some of the homeless sleep. HOLY ****. Talk about high class living. Jesus Christ. I just bought my first tent last year! These people definitely picked a good area of the country to be homeless in. It's never really cold, hardly ever rains, and snow....never. **** they should try that **** back in Chicago or Mpls come Janurary. Hell the cops find dead homeless people all the time back there because they froze to death. Totally mind boggling.

I confronfonted a guy who stole my seat and post, and didn't get it back, and I didn't get killed. I tried the nice guy rutine "Hey nice bike, look at that fancy shock absorbing seat post, where do you get those, one of those would be great to put on my MTB" he imediatly launches into the defensive, and takes off, but at least I havn't seen him around the neighborhood lately. He was only stupid enough to come back around the once.

Most homeless people here are crazy. I don't know if being crazy made them homeless, or being homeless made them crazy. Just be carefull.

sounds like the nice guy routine was a little to passive agressive

I was just riding into work right now (graveyard), on my way to work I ride under a bridge a block away from work. Under the bridge live a couple of homeless folk, some of which have bikes (mountain bikes/cruiser/bmx/childrensbikes). While I was passing by I happened to glance over and what did I see? My front wheel which had been stolen a month earlier! Mother F*ckers! It looked like they had gotten a flat since.
This was just 10 minutes ago, my wheel was stolen from my bike about a month ago (I didn't lock up the front wheel, I do now of course). It's a dura ace hub laced with aero spokes to an araya aero rim. I got it sooo cheap off ebay. I don't know what to do, I want my wheel back. But there's like 20 of these guys and one of me. Plus I think there's a couple families living under there. Most of us have had something stolen from us. The anger! F*ckers deserve to die! I don't know what kind of people they are, I know they're poor, but I've seen them watching tv under that bridge. So what the f*ck!? I understand they need to get around, but that's no excuse to steel people's wheels!
I don't even know if I could recover this wheel without someone getting harmed.

Let's review here.
* There are 20 of them.
* If 20% of the homeless are mentally unstable and 10% are high at a given time, that means -- approximately -- that you have 4 mentally unstable people and 2 people under the influence on the other side. This sort of rules out calm negotiation.
* If you get the wheel back, and lock the bike in the same place again, I'd say there are pretty good odds the entire bike will be vandalized, just for the heck of it.
* The aim, I would think, is not to make an already sad situation worse.

So, unless you can get a bit of sympathetic police help, I'd say you are out a wheel. It could be worse. You could be out a broken jaw and a wheel.

Trading for the wheel might work, but I wouldn't identify yourself as the owner, just as somebody who'd like to buy the wheel. As another poster said, you might offer another wheel and a few bucks. I would imagine this idea will stick in your craw, and it should -- it's like making crime pay. On the other hand, that sounds like a good wheel and sometimes pragmatism is advisable.

so is the wheel on a bike, or just chillin. i'd do a ride bike and grab it and split.

Let's review here.
* There are 20 of them.
* If 20% of the homeless are mentally unstable and 10% are high at a given time, that means -- approximately -- that you have 4 mentally unstable people and 2 people under the influence on the other side. This sort of rules out calm negotiation.
* If you get the wheel back, and lock the bike in the same place again, I'd say there are pretty good odds the entire bike will be vandalized, just for the heck of it.
* The aim, I would think, is not to make an already sad situation worse.

So, unless you can get a bit of sympathetic police help, I'd say you are out a wheel. It could be worse. You could be out a broken jaw and a wheel.

Trading for the wheel might work, but I wouldn't identify yourself as the owner, just as somebody who'd like to buy the wheel. As another poster said, you might offer another wheel and a few bucks. I would imagine this idea will stick in your craw, and it should -- it's like making crime pay. On the other hand, that sounds like a good wheel and sometimes pragmatism is advisable.


i defenatly don't want to make my self know as the owner and i don't want them to know i have the wheel there after.
as for locking up my bike, my building actualy has a bicycle cage inside the parking garage where i have a lock there and i carry another lock so it's extremely well protected. the reason my wheel got stolen was because sometimes when i was late for work i would stop infront of the building, lock up my bike, and run inside, i would then come back later and put it in the cage when i had time. eventualy one day my wheel was gone. i won't make that mistake ever again! id rather be late than lose another wheel. or ill just come earlier

so is the wheel on a bike, or just chillin. i'd do a ride bike and grab it and split.
the couple of times i passed by the wheel was leaning against a wall not being used. they mostly use mountain bikes so im guessing it didn't fit in their bike. and it look like it might have had a flat. im actualy thinking of doing an old school "drive-by". drive by real slow run out, grab the wheel, and run back in. i just don't know how slick or quick i am

the couple of times i passed by the wheel was leaning against a wall not being used. they mostly use mountain bikes so im guessing it didn't fit in their bike. and it look like it might have had a flat. im actualy thinking of doing an old school "drive-by". drive by real slow run out, grab the wheel, and run back in. i just don't know how slick or quick i am

Dude you should hook up with juvi-kyle and others tomorrow on the LA ride and then all of you swing over there and get it. I know they would be up to help you out!

the couple of times i passed by the wheel was leaning against a wall not being used. they mostly use mountain bikes so im guessing it didn't fit in their bike. and it look like it might have had a flat. im actualy thinking of doing an old school "drive-by". drive by real slow run out, grab the wheel, and run back in. i just don't know how slick or quick i am

Man, if the wheel is just sitting there, the drive-by is the best bet. Seriously, when things are quiet I'd just run it, grab it and high tail it out of there - preferably have a friend waiting in a car.

If you can't prove it's your wheel, it's not necessarily your wheel anyway. So you can try to buy it or barter for it, but to take it would be stealing. F'ed up perhaps, but legally (and I'd say karmically) true.

sounds like the nice guy routine was a little to passive agressive

uh.. yea, well now I just keep my "good bike" @ home, and keep take my ugliefied ride to the train station where paople could steel it. I'm not good at getting back stolen crap, so I just try not to get it stolen.

good call, also a have a very good friend named peter larsen, remarkably similar names...

If you can't prove it's your wheel, it's not necessarily your wheel anyway. So you can try to buy it or barter for it, but to take it would be stealing. F'ed up perhaps, but legally (and I'd say karmically) true.



What? He bought that damn nice wheel and it's his. Not necessarily his wheel?? How do you come up with this?

If you can't prove it's your wheel, it's not necessarily your wheel anyway. So you can try to buy it or barter for it, but to take it would be stealing. F'ed up perhaps, but legally (and I'd say karmically) true.

i can more than prove it's mine. these guys would NEVER have such a nice wheel. plus it's very unique, like i said: dura ace hub laced with aero spokes to an ARAYA aero rim. i haven't even seen another araya aero rim. and ive never seen a bum with any aero rims to start with.

would you like to comission me to recover it for you?


if it's just sitting there with a bunch of other crap then walk up to it, grab it, tell the guy it's yours and he's lucky you're not going to demolish him and leave with it. Make sure to call him a b*tch as you ride away, it will feel good.


Just today i was walking in to walgreens and saw an ulocked bike in the lot laying on the ground and i figured the owner was probably nearby. I was surprised to see it unattended on my way back out. I saw some crackhead walk up to it, inspect it and as he was reaching over for it i yelled "You better not take it if it's not yours" then he tried to play it off like it was his so i repeated myself again, "You better not take it if it's not yours",he replied with "i'll sell it to you" and i replied "I'd punch you in the face before i gave you money for that bike, b*tch"

I hate bike thieves. I want to demolish them all.

remember, follow it with a b*tch. avenge that sh*t.

would you like to comission me to recover it for you?


if it's just sitting there with a bunch of other crap then walk up to it, grab it, tell the guy it's yours and he's lucky you're not going to demolish him and leave with it. Make sure to call him a b*tch as you ride away, it will feel good.


Just today i was walking in to walgreens and saw an ulocked bike in the lot laying on the ground and i figured the owner was probably nearby. I was surprised to see it unattended on my way back out. I saw some crackhead walk up to it, inspect it and as he was reaching over for it i yelled "You better not take it if it's not yours" then he tried to play it off like it was his so i repeated myself again, "You better not take it if it's not yours",he replied with "i'll sell it to you" and i replied "I'd punch you in the face before i gave you money for that bike, b*tch"

I hate bike thieves. I want to demolish them all.

remember, follow it with a b*tch. avenge that sh*t.

Decaf.

you people are nuts..i couldn't imagine trying to strike a deal with some crackhead a5s bum for my own wheel. just go get your freakin wheel back and keep your bike locked up in the bike cage at your work.

i can more than prove it's mine. these guys would NEVER have such a nice wheel. plus it's very unique, like i said: dura ace hub laced with aero spokes to an ARAYA aero rim. i haven't even seen another araya aero rim. and ive never seen a bum with any aero rims to start with.
I believe you. I'm sure everyone here does. But could you prove to the police, or a court, that it's your wheel? If so, then by all means, take it back, or try to get the police to help (or to do it for you). If you can't prove it, though, then I suggest you buy it back, or barter for it or whatever. I'm pretty sure a pizza would do the trick nicely. :)

drive by first, u-locks second.

Let's review here.
* There are 20 of them.
* If 20% of the homeless are mentally unstable and 10% are high at a given time, that means -- approximately -- that you have 4 mentally unstable people and 2 people under the influence on the other side. This sort of rules out calm negotiation.


Yeah... and as often as not, they are more afraid of you than you need to be of them. Mentally unstable does not equal DANGEROUS. They might be so paranoid they just hand it over to you, no questions asked.

I don't think TIP needs decaf. that's what anyone who sees a (near) bike theft should do.

I saw one happening from a block or two away once, couldn't tell that he was stealing it really, but something was fishy. It looked like he was just unlocking his wheel, then I see him run away with the bike minus a front wheel. When I got over there it was just a front wheel u-locked to a pole.

Of course now I wish I'd gone over to investigate as soon I thought something was up, I guess confronting a 6 foot man with a big wrench wasn't too inviting a situation.

There should be a group ride dedicated to prevention of theft and recovery of stolen bikes and parts. :) a sort of de facto anti bike theft squad.

Decaf.

that is the decaf :)

Stop whining about the whole thing, and get your damn wheel back.

that is the decaf :)

There you go terrifying me again.

Stop whining about the whole thing, and get your damn wheel back.
seriously.

Sounds like an esteem issue, namely yours.

The real question: Is it OK for others to do to me as they will, or not?

If you don't mind folks p!ssing on you from time to time, move on.
If you do, then recover your wheel. These guys aren't exactly invested in society at large, so odds are they won't call the police. If a minivan full of nuns happens to drive by during the recovery, you're screwed. Beyond that, if you just let this go, you're just letting them know it's ok for them to steal from you.
Make sure they know who you are, and what is yours. Let them know that there will be a vigorous and unpleasant response if you or your stuff is in any way violated.
I know this s*cks. People are supposed to treat one another better, but they often don't.

I am hoping for this guy that he recruited some friends, pick up truck, baseball bats, and cracked some heads.

And do not lock your bike oustide, and for the love of jeebus, get rid off the "quick realease" things on your bike.

15mm nuts to you , buster . ... :mad:

They took your wheel. Take it back. Simple. If it spends it's time sitting on a wall, tghen all you have to do is roll up on it, lift it and pedal hard. "Ride it like you stole it" never rang so true! If you grabbed it and sprinted away, I doubt anybody would/could chase you. If you are really worried about being recognized, wear a fake moustache and some Unabomber sunglasses.

Damn, there have to be other riders in LA. I'm sure there are some on this board. Just get every single person you can find to roll up really scary-like on a bike while you retrieve your wheel and let everyone know that the bike community does not like to be messed with. Hell, you could even make a neighborhood watch of sorts and have people put stickers on their bikes to show that there will be a full investigation and backlash if bikes are stolen. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you: if you don't want to be messed around with, then don't mess around.

All this talk.. Did you get it back yet??

didn't you say you got the wheel off ebay? and you cna't prove it's yours?

I don't think TIP needs decaf. that's what anyone who sees a (near) bike theft should do.

I saw one happening from a block or two away once, couldn't tell that he was stealing it really, but something was fishy. It looked like he was just unlocking his wheel, then I see him run away with the bike minus a front wheel. When I got over there it was just a front wheel u-locked to a pole.

Of course now I wish I'd gone over to investigate as soon I thought something was up, I guess confronting a 6 foot man with a big wrench wasn't too inviting a situation.

There should be a group ride dedicated to prevention of theft and recovery of stolen bikes and parts. :) a sort of de facto anti bike theft squad.

Yeah every once in a while i'll see someone walking around with a rear or front wheel in their hands. First thing i always do is do a quick ride around the immediate area looking for a bike that may be missing said wheel. Haven't identified one yet but I haven't come up with what i'd do if i had so I guess thats a good thing for now...