Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bike Theif Sting in Los Angeles

Hello fellow enthusiasts. Some jagoff tried to take my bike last night. Here's my story:

Riding down Hillhurst yesterday I felt contented. I had just arrived home from my nieces 1st birthday party, and was riding on a wave of warm fuzzies. Since it was only 8pm, I decided to cap off my evening by watching the Quantum of Solace at the Vista. So i jumped on my recently purchased Kilo, and headed down the hill at one with my bike and the road, trying to outpace cars, and squeaking through intersections as the lights turned yellow. Upon arriving at the Vista, the bike racks were filled, so i locked my bike up to the pedestrian walk button pole not 10 feet from the box office, and bathed in the light from the marque.

At this moment a weird sense of dread came over me, it was as if a switch was flipped in my head, and all of a sudden i felt as if there was a great sadness in the force. Not entirely sure of what I was feeling, I headed to the box office, purchased my ticket, and stood in the concession line. Right before I headed into the main theater, I looked back at my Kilo, and stopped for a second to admire the way the Vista lights were dancing off the emerald green paint. I didn't know why I did this at the time, but in retrospect should have listened to my intuition, instead of passing it off as being overly paranoid. As the movie got out, I hurried to the exit, and was relieved to see my bike resting elegantly against the pole. Feeling immense relief, I walked over to my bike. While walking around it and fishing for my key, I was stopped dead in my tracks. The once pristine top tube was scarred and chipped against the pole, and my Kryptonite mini lock had rips in its vinyl covering. Some gutless piece of waste had tried to break my lock, and in the process had ruined the top tube on a bike that was but 3 weeks old.

Now in my 26 years of life, no one would mistake me for an alterboy. I have done things that I'm ashamed of, and things that I knew in the bottom of my heart were wrong. I'll admit that. But to pass this off as Karma? Karma is for hippies. The meek accept misfortune as Karma, the strong retaliate. I am willing to set up bike stings in the Los Feliz, Echo Park, Silverlake, and Hollywood areas. I have a customized Fixed gear that we can use as bait, and a video camera to document the evidence to the police. Lets take our streets back, and show these A holes that you should never touch another man's property. Who's with me?

viva la revolucion!

I'd join you if I lived in the area, bro, but since I don't, you'll need to find some folks already there. At least the lock worked.

Ughhh stories like this make me even more nervous about leaving my bike ANYWHERE. As of today I am car-less so sometimes it will be necessary to lock my baby up while I take care of ****... I seriously want to get a beater just so I don't have to live in (as much) fear of getting jacked.

Sucks about your top tube :(

So glad I decided to drop the extra coin on the Kryptonite. And just putting it out there, but I'm pretty sure Bike thieves live in your neck of the world as well. Get some friends together, and make your streets safer for fellow bike enthusiasts.

That's my pole in front of Vista. I lean against it when I don't feel like trackstanding while waiting for the light to change to cross onto Sunset.
Sorry to hear about your top tube.

That's my pole in front of Vista. I lean against it when I don't feel like trackstanding while waiting for the light to change to cross onto Sunset.
Sorry to hear about your top tube.

Then that must mean you live in the area, let's clear it of some trash

Go to midnightridazz or lafixed. A bunch of other people have been clamoring for a bike sting, but it seems like you're the first one to mention an actual plan.

I'd help if I were in the area. Bike thieves are the lowest of scum, IMO.

Go to midnightridazz or lafixed. A bunch of other people have been clamoring for a bike sting, but it seems like you're the first one to mention an actual plan.

I'll do just that. You've got to start somewhere. If you're interested, feel free to contact me as well. I'm going through with this, with or without support.

you do know its not recommended that you leave a bike outside a movie theater, right? its a bike theifs haven. maybe you should have used better judgement. dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

I would really like to see abunch of self righteous Mercier Kilo TT owners remove bike thieves off the streets of LA.

I would really like to see abunch of self righteous Mercier Kilo TT owners remove bike thieves off the streets of LA.

ehh it would be better than seeing people sit at home talking **** on forums....amiright?

you do know its not recommended that you leave a bike outside a movie theater, right? its a bike theifs haven. maybe you should have used better judgement. dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

Yes, how stupid of me to leave my property locked in front of the place I was going to be. I should have known that the poor misguided thief could not help themselves. I mean after all, it's societies fault as a whole that throws these people into a life of crime. I mean I don't know about you, but i'm sick and tired of **** victim's complaining about their assailants, when they should have watched their drink at the bar. EVERYONE knows that. By the way, where do you live? I want to make sure you learn the lesson that you should have bars on your windows, because it's your fault that I'm going to hurl a brick through it. Go eat some glass.

you do know its not recommended that you leave a bike outside a movie theater, right? its a bike theifs haven. maybe you should have used better judgement. dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

I agree, next time it would be better to lock it up in front of the Blockbuster across the street. A much more unpredictable setting for the thief.

Video tape wont do much unless you know the people. Trying to stop them in the act will work a few times maybe, I would stop someone from trying to take my bike naturally, but if you are putting yourself in that position on purpose that is stupid. Someone will stab you. If you are worried about your bike being stolen you have the wrong bike.

Video tape wont do much unless you know the people. Trying to stop them in the act will work a few times maybe, I would stop someone from trying to take my bike naturally, but if you are putting yourself in that position on purpose that is stupid. Someone will stab you. If you are worried about your bike being stolen you have the wrong bike.

Video evidence of them stealing the bike, as well as finding out where they take it would be an invaluable tool for the police. Especially when your sitting in front of the Criminals storage facility ready to show the cops what happened in the view finder. I'm not advocating violence, or direct confrontation, that would be very dangerous. What I'm advocating is documenting the criminal act, and shutting them down within the confines of the law.

you should leave your bike home and take a bus or sumtin to the moves.

Man I wish I could ride my bike to the movies. Well, I guess I could; there's a theatre nearby that shows old films.
But there's nothing I really want to see, and I'm way too insecure to go out and watch a movie on my own. Oh well.

you do know its not recommended that you leave a bike outside a movie theater, right? its a bike theifs haven. maybe you should have used better judgement. dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

Something tells me you've uttered the words "she was asking for it" more than a few times in your life.

you do know its not recommended that you leave a bike outside a movie theater, right? its a bike theifs haven. maybe you should have used better judgement. dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

You are dumb as hell.

dont blame the thief for trying to take what is yours, you gave them the opportunity.

xg43x in action:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/carltonreidpix/R2zwokBrZvI/AAAAAAAAB4s/HGiIbyQhEws/s400/1point8cutting.jpg

kinda makes me want to go after them with a large heavy object.

what happened to your top tube?

Now in my 26 years of life, no one would mistake me for an alterboy. I have done things that I'm ashamed of, and things that I knew in the bottom of my heart were wrong. I'll admit that. But to pass this off as Karma? Karma is for hippies.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune but as an old hippie, I do believe in Karma. Maybe doing some good deeds would go a long way in helping you move on. But on the other hand, I do believe that bad things can happen to good people (but as you admit, not in your case). I hope everything works out for you.

i was at the echo (glendale and sunset) on saturday night, some guy had a a nice fixie outside, wrapped with a single lock wire (those ones you open with a key and they coil up) went to the ATM on my way back some guy was looking at it and toying with the lock. i screamed hey thats not yours, he ran off. after the show the bike was gone hope it wasnt stolen.


moral of story invest in a good lock

Go to midnightridazz or lafixed. A bunch of other people have been clamoring for a bike sting, but it seems like you're the first one to mention an actual plan.

Yeah get on LAfixed. I am in echo park and I am down 100% helping with a sting op. I already have pics of thieves available on LAfixed. It is getting way to crazy around here. You cant lockup for 5minutes without having your wheels, seat, stem, etc stolen.

what happened to your top tube?


The paint is scratched and has several patches of bare metal the size of dimes along the length of it. It looks as if the guy used my bike as a violin bow against the pole. Never saw the need for a top tube pad, now considering it.

Yeah get on LAfixed. I am in echo park and I am down 100% helping with a sting op. I already have pics of thieves available on LAfixed. It is getting way to crazy around here. You cant lockup for 5minutes without having your wheels, seat, stem, etc stolen.

I'm posting on LAfixed as we speak. PM me and lets get this thing rolling.

Hey man, I dig that you're putting this sting together, but are you seriously gonna let some cops handle something that you could handle yourself?

Hey man, I dig that you're putting this sting together, but are you seriously gonna let some cops handle something that you could handle yourself?

This is how epic beatdowns and rumbles start.

http://shinymedia.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/08/anchorman_2.jpg

I'd be interested to know if anyone can do a tracking device that can be hidden in/on a bike - just like the movies! :)

You could follow that baby from thief to fence to reciever of stolen goods - would be ideal if you were tracking a gang of pros/semi-pros instead of just junkie opportunists.

To the batcave!

imagine if everyone rounded up a posse in every major city to stop bike theft....it would be a society of bikes free chains and locks.

ahh what a wonderful world it would be

I'd join, but I dont' have my fixie yet :( I live around the area too!

I'd join, but I dont' have my fixie yet :( I live around the area too!

you can still bring some vigilante justice

Next time lock your bike to the pole via your back wheel instead of a part of your frame. Instead of your frame being damaged, you might lose a wheel, but the frame is what matters most, right?

Get two U locks and attach from backwheel to frame and frontwheel to frame and then a thicker cable and a way to get it through the seat maybe?

Sucks that someone tried to steal your ride, but I have to echo the comments of others saying it's not real smart to lock up your bike at a movie theater. Thieves know you'll be gone for 2+ hours and take advantage of it. It's ****ty, but that's the way it is.

This is how epic beatdowns and rumbles start.

http://shinymedia.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/08/anchorman_2.jpg

Um, it's called a vicious **** fight. Get it right!

Next time lock your bike to the pole via your back wheel instead of a part of your frame. Instead of your frame being damaged, you might lose a wheel, but the frame is what matters most, right?

Ummm, seems like the wheel would be left locked to the pole and the rest of the bike taken. :D

I have to question the mob/Charles Bronson mentality going on here. I had a friend that was home for summer a few years back walk in on a robbery attempt at his parents house. He got pistol whipped (for real), gagged, hog tied and had to watch while some ****ers ransack his house. That's something that deserved a little retribution.

You just had someone try to steal your bike. I'm sorry, and that sucks the top tube got messed up, but for christ sake, put some perspective into the situation. This stuff happens all the time. Yes, so do rapes and murders and arsons, but you're treating this like someone just put a family member in the hospital. You still have the thing even. Calm down, learn from the situation, make sure you minimize the risks in the future.

For the record, I've been mugged, and I've come out to my bike to find all the nuts off both my wheels, sitting on the ground (luckily everything was locked together).

Ummm, seems like the wheel would be left locked to the pole and the rest of the bike taken. :DThis seems to be a common misconception. Try it out on your bike and you'll see why it is a secure method of locking up. :)

Forget about the video camera...Bring a bat and kneecap 'em!!

beaters get stolen ten to 1.

I have to question the mob/Charles Bronson mentality going on here. I had a friend that was home for summer a few years back walk in on a robbery attempt at his parents house. He got pistol whipped (for real), gagged, hog tied and had to watch while some ****ers ransack his house. That's something that deserved a little retribution.

You just had someone try to steal your bike. I'm sorry, and that sucks the top tube got messed up, but for christ sake, put some perspective into the situation. This stuff happens all the time. Yes, so do rapes and murders and arsons, but you're treating this like someone just put a family member in the hospital. You still have the thing even. Calm down, learn from the situation, make sure you minimize the risks in the future.

For the record, I've been mugged, and I've come out to my bike to find all the nuts off both my wheels, sitting on the ground (luckily everything was locked together).

There is a difference between Charles Bronson mentality, and taking an active stake in making your community safer. All crime starts from a small act. The same people that pistol whipped your friend in his house, probably started off small. Criminals expect their victims to accept it as a part of life. That's not the kind of community I want to live in. If I can help the cyclist community in my neighborhood, then I'm going to do everything in my power to stop it. And if you want to make it a part of your daily life, then that's your option. I want to make the criminal element in Los Feliz, and other surrounding communities look for easier targets, and anyone that wants to join me is more than welcome.

i would just like to chime in and add my name to the list of people who think xg43x is a ****ing idiot.

also, joncarlo, i don't live in LA, but i really hope you do something.

...and a video camera to document the evidence to the police.

I wouldn't bother with the police. A tazer to subdue them followed by a good old fashioned ass whoopin' will be a lot more effective than spending the night in jail. (And you'll feel like Batman)

Yeah get on LAfixed. I am in echo park and I am down 100% helping with a sting op. I already have pics of thieves available on LAfixed. It is getting way to crazy around here. You cant lockup for 5minutes without having your wheels, seat, stem, etc stolen.

That sucks. I used to live in LA up until about five years ago and I laugh when I think about how casually I used to lock my bikes back then. Just really bad locks, never worrying about the wheels or saddle, etc. I now live in London where bike theft is a huuuge problem and it seems quaint to remember that time. Although that's a huge drag that theft seems to have gotten worse, I suppose it's also some consolation that this probably indicates that the number cyclists is growing.

Anyways, sorry about your bike, and good luck with any covert ops you decide to try. There has been some talk about this on the London fixed board, but I'm not sure if it's ever actually happened. There are certain spots here that are just notorious for bike theft. I've never seen it, but supposedly a van will pull up full of gnarly tools and guys will just shred locks and toss the bikes in the van and take off. I'd be pretty nervous going up against an operation like that...

you people in LA comtemplating a sting need someone who is familiar with violence on your side. I suggest the poster named A. Bikarelli (from LA). He has the muscle and the backup to "send a message" if it comes to that. He posts here.