General Cycling Discussion - Bike found Stolen

All stolen bike stories should end this way. This one is a reward for bicycle commuting:

I was riding home from work last week and happened to take a narrow alley that runs between a high school and the football field. The alley is an access road for deliveries and fire trucks. It is usually gated, but bicycles and pedestrians pass through so it is part of my commute route.

Low and behold, there was my son's bicycle piled up with a bunch of other bikes that obviously belonged to the kids practicing high school football.

Well, my son does not go to that school and he does not play football so I wondered what the heck was going on. I stopped, looked for my son, looked for at least one of his friends, but NOoooobody was there that I recognized.

I decided to wait - right by the bike. After practice, finally some kids were milling around the bikes looking anxious. Eventually, all of the bikes were gone except my son's bike. "This is too strange" I thought and walked my son's bike and mine back home.

As I was walking, a gang of kids with the high-school jerseys rode past me on bikes. One of the kids was getting a ride from another kid and said "Hey that's my bike! Nyaa ha ha ha!"

Sure enough, when I got home, I discover that the bike had been stolen, but luckily, I found it within hours of it being stolen!

The bike was a 70's vintage Le Tour; perhaps not a bike with huge monetary value, but we rebuilt it bolt by bolt and repainted it together. It would have been a huge loss emotionaly if I hadn't found it.

I did call the police and tell them what happened. They thought it was interesting, but weren't interested in pursueing.

I'm happy you got it back, Mike. Sounds like maybe your son didn't lock it?

Sometimes luck is on your side. Glad you found it.

Over the years, one of my sons lost 3 bikes. 2 of them we built together, the third one he bought. I always made sure he had a lock, but I couldn't make him use it. Hope your son uses his.

I know of some people that have had there bicycle stolen up to five times ..miracle they got it back each time,no wonder some folks get upset?:mad:

Originally posted by mike

Low and behold, there was my son's bicycle piled up with a bunch of other bikes that obviously belonged to the kids practicing high school football....

As I was walking, a gang of kids with the high-school jerseys rode past me on bikes. One of the kids was getting a ride from another kid and said "Hey that's my bike! Nyaa ha ha ha!"....

I did call the police and tell them what happened. They thought it was interesting, but weren't interested in pursueing.

The kid was a member of the football team? I can see why the police might not want to be bothered. After all, you got the bike back. I wonder if the coach, or the principal of the school would be be interested in your story. Would you recognize the kid again?

Mike,

There is a law in the universe you are probably well aware of. It's called, "you reap what you sow." No matter how things seem to go wrong for nice folk and right for cheaters, eventually, this law is the great equalizer.

I think you have sown so much into the lives of other people by unselfishly (and joyfully) fixing their bikes, giving them bikes and generally helping them bikewise that the patron saint of bicycling (whoever that is :) ) was simply forced to help you.

;)

(See, all this helping stuff comes back to you, man. :thumbup: )

Pete's right, and I'm betting there's plenty more good yet to come.

I did call the police and tell them what happened. They thought it was interesting, but weren't interested in pursueing. [/B]

Glad you found the bike! This a great example of how worthless the saying "to protect and serve" is. The three times in my life where the police could have helped me in a situation where I was a crime victim they not only failed to help but merely provided necessary paperwork so insurance claims could be filed.

Most cops don't need a gun but a clipboard and a typewriter so they can perform more like a secretary for the insurance companies. But let one of us hardened criminals dare to speed. Then you might as well have knocked over their favorite doughnut shop! :D

Now, Now, Sam. ;)

-Middi-zon

Originally posted by Pete Clark
Mike,

There is a law in the universe you are probably well aware of. It's called, "you reap what you sow." I think you have sown so much into the lives of other people by unselfishly (and joyfully) fixing their bikes, giving them bikes and generally helping them bikewise that the patron saint of bicycling (whoever that is :) ) was simply forced to help you.

Thanks, Pete. That is nice of you to say. God helped me out with this one for sure.

Originally posted by pinerider
I'm happy you got it back, Mike. Sounds like maybe your son didn't lock it?

Exactly. It was parked in the backyard without a lock on it.

Most cops don't need a gun but a clipboard and a typewriter so they can perform more like a secretary for the insurance companies. But let one of us hardened criminals dare to speed. Then you might as well have knocked over their favorite doughnut shop!
I think the problem is money, time & resources. It's much easier, and cost effective to have an officer sitting on the side of the road w/ radar gun in hand, than to persue some stolen property. With the radar gun, he/she has instant evidence, witnesses the "crime", and makes the state/county a quick dollar by handing out the ticket. Now compare that to the time and resources needed to catch a small time thief. Sad, but most likely true. :(

MSD

I'm glad you got the bike back. I had mine stolen recently and I ended up getting it back, that is a good feeling. Actually my post of the situation seemed to have caused quite a stir here a couple of months ago.

Anyway, it's good you got it back.

Originally posted by mike
All stolen bike stories should end this way. This one is a reward for bicycle commuting:

I was riding home from work last week and happened to take a narrow alley that runs between a high school and the football field. The alley is an access road for deliveries and fire trucks. It is usually gated, but bicycles and pedestrians pass through so it is part of my commute route.

Low and behold, there was my son's bicycle piled up with a bunch of other bikes that obviously belonged to the kids practicing high school football.

Well, my son does not go to that school and he does not play football so I wondered what the heck was going on. I stopped, looked for my son, looked for at least one of his friends, but NOoooobody was there that I recognized.

I decided to wait - right by the bike. After practice, finally some kids were milling around the bikes looking anxious. Eventually, all of the bikes were gone except my son's bike. "This is too strange" I thought and walked my son's bike and mine back home.

As I was walking, a gang of kids with the high-school jerseys rode past me on bikes. One of the kids was getting a ride from another kid and said "Hey that's my bike! Nyaa ha ha ha!"

Sure enough, when I got home, I discover that the bike had been stolen, but luckily, I found it within hours of it being stolen!

The bike was a 70's vintage Le Tour; perhaps not a bike with huge monetary value, but we rebuilt it bolt by bolt and repainted it together. It would have been a huge loss emotionally if I hadn't found it.

I did call the police and tell them what happened. They thought it was interesting, but weren't interested in pursuing.

Aahhh! The ultimate revenge. Getting back what's yours buy stilling from the thief himself. I hope he felt like your son did when the bike was stolen. Good luck!


Originally posted by SamDaBikinMan
Glad you found the bike! This a great example of how worthless the saying "to protect and serve" is. The three times in my life where the police could have helped me in a situation where I was a crime victim they not only failed to help but merely provided necessary paperwork so insurance claims could be filed.

Most cops don't need a gun but a clipboard and a typewriter so they can perform more like a secretary for the insurance companies. But let one of us hardened criminals dare to speed. Then you might as well have knocked over their favorite doughnut shop! :D

You are rite 100%. Now, there is no way all cups are like that(I hope), but all I have encountered are. Mostly ignorant and unwilling to understand.

Originally posted by mike
One of the kids was getting a ride from another kid and said "Hey that's my bike! Nyaa ha ha ha!"


That is all the kid got for stealing a bike, and even admitting it basically????
Next time he will have some confidence that nobody will whip him or at least yell or threat to bring police...
Idon't know exactly what kind of kids they were and what was the situation, but this sounds way too easy to let them go with nothing like this...