Living Car Free - Suspected Bike Thief Gets His Just Rewards?

In another thread, I discussed some (not implying anyone participating in these forums) are bike riders as an danger to themselves and innocent pedestrians. Now turn your attentions to a viable threat against most any cyclist (hint-not a car this time). That threat being the dreaded Bike Thieve(s). Now here is an example of what not to do in the event of discovery of the identity of a bike thief, no matter what age he/she is.

Angry Dad Runs Over Suspected Bike Thief
Kathleen Cochrane Fox 8 Reporter
6:29 PM PDT, April 20, 2010

Video included at this Web Page:
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-stolen-bike-ax,0,3943778.story (http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-stolen-bike-ax,0,3943778.story)

EUCLID, Ohio --"....Police said the dad was out looking for the bike down side streets in Euclid Sunday afternoon when he thought he spotted Keeshawn Cummings, 14, riding it.

Police said when the dad confronted Cummings and his friends they took off.

That's when, witnesses said, the angry father took matters into his own hands, by hitting Cummings with his SUV, going about 30 miles-an-hour.

"The man took the law in his own hands, went out of his way to put this kid down and that bike was crunched," said Plott. "The fellow was standing there saying 'You're going to go to jail.'"

Cummings was rushed to Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital while Euclid Police arrested the father who hit him for felonious assault.

While it's not clear if Cummings was riding the stolen bike, Plott sais the father's reaction was way too extreme.

"It's way to much to chase a kid on a bicycle and put him in the hospital.
(Bold added to above by myself)

So....was this incident successful in recovery of the bike? Obviously not if it was hit at 30 mph. Was the "bad guy bike thief" got what he deserved? Obviously not. The victimized turned criminalized family faces shame and financial ruin in a small community for not so much as the lost bike, but ego and pumped up anger more over the f#@^ you attitude of the underaged minor teenagers to the male adult addressing them. Laws are more for protection of the flesh and blood underage minor, the weak, and the infirm than property no matter how valuable as a bike is to us.

I think it is the bike owner that has to be cautious, even a bit paranoid when it comes to not losing it in the first place (the bike that is).

While the dad's reaction was extreme, I have ZERO pity for bike thieves...

As chris rock would say. " I do not really agree....but I understand"

Here they strip the thieves down to their underwear and send them on their way =) Probably more appropriate kind of street justice.

Rainbow Babies? Seriously?

The father is a reckless, irresponsible loser. He almost killed somebody, he destroyed the bike, he'll pay tens of thousands in legal bills, and he'll go to jail. He did far more injury to his child and the rest of his family than the bike thief did.

A lot of us feel that rage, both at being the victim of theft, and experiencing the "FU" attitude from a young thug-wanna-be. As tempting as it is -- and WOW, is it! -- we as adults can't let go of that. Trouble is, the kids know it and use it. It's not like it was a few decades ago, when you could not only get 'whupped' by a neighbor, but get another from a parent when you got home! Now, you don't dare discipline someone else's child -- even though SOMEONE should, that parent sure won't.

There's always another day, too. Catch the kid doing something else,.............................................

There are few things that are worth that kind of reaction. Molest my children or family and I can't guarantee I wouldn't react that way. Steal my kids bike, well, I think if I knew where it was being ridden I would follow the fellow, get on the cell phone and call the police. The perpetrator would get his getting caught. Even if he didn't the bike can be replaced and I can spend time with my kid. That guy let his emotions do the thinking for him and that's never smart.

A lot of us feel that rage, both at being the victim of theft, and experiencing the "FU" attitude from a young thug-wanna-be. As tempting as it is -- and WOW, is it! -- we as adults can't let go of that. Trouble is, the kids know it and use it. It's not like it was a few decades ago, when you could not only get 'whupped' by a neighbor, but get another from a parent when you got home! Now, you don't dare discipline someone else's child -- even though SOMEONE should, that parent sure won't.

There's always another day, too. Catch the kid doing something else,.............................................

I don't think you mean to say that a "whupping" is the same as being run over with an SUV, do you? Do you really even believe that it's appropriate to hit somebody else's child?

I don't think you mean to say that a "whupping" is the same as being run over with an SUV, do you? Do you really even believe that it's appropriate to hit somebody else's child?

I believe there is a point where a kid needs to be hit to get the message, no matter whose kid it is. I grew up where it is completely fine for teachers to beat a student, all the way to high school; you don't get traumatized, you wise up. But I do believe a spanking should be done with a cane, extension cord or hairbrush(we improvise), not an SUV.

I believe there is a point where a kid needs to be hit to get the message, no matter whose kid it is. I grew up where it is completely fine for teachers to beat a student, all the way to high school; you don't get traumatized, you wise up.

I disagree. Of all the times where I was punished with a beating, I remember the beatings, but I'll be d*mned if I can remember what I got them for.

The lessons of other forms of punishment were far more memorable. Beating is just bullying.

I believe there is a point where a kid needs to be hit to get the message, no matter whose kid it is. I grew up where it is completely fine for teachers to beat a student, all the way to high school; you don't get traumatized, you wise up. But I do believe a spanking should be done with a cane, extension cord or hairbrush(we improvise), not an SUV.

Corporal punishment was allowed in my schools also. I remember without exception that the effective teaches never used the paddle, while the losers were reaching for it all the time.

We had a kid I grew up with who was a really bad seed. I knew him for who he was, but other parents got the Eddie Haskel treatment. He often sold bikes to parents for thier kids. He went so far as to steal my bike and strip it and then came back with the frame to tell my mom how he found it on a hillside. That parent at no time knew the circumstance of the bike when he ran the kid down. It's a shame. I bet he wishes he could take it back.

I don't think you mean to say that a "whupping" is the same as being run over with an SUV, do you? Do you really even believe that it's appropriate to hit somebody else's child?

I'm not only not sure how you read that into my post, I'm amazed that you did! I didn't even HINT at 'bringing back the good ol' days', or anything of the sort.

The FACT is, there has been a HUGE blurring of the lines of responsibility and ethics since the 60's and 70's. When I was a child, teachers, neighbors, etc., would in fact be able to give a child a stiff whack and send them home to mom & dad. When I was a young parent, there was an option, via signed consent, for teachers to administer limited corporal punishment. Nowadays, I'd just as soon the teacher/authority figure ring me up and let me know, so I can deal with it myself. Trust me, I'll impose a stiffer penalty than any teacher is able to do.

I'm sure, though, that you've noticed the parallels between the diminution of corporal punishment and the increased uncontrollability of children. Our "unenlightened" parents didn't seem to have as many problems with delinquency.

And, finally...NO, getting cracked by an SUV is not synonymous with a "whupping".

I'm not only not sure how you read that into my post, I'm amazed that you did! I didn't even HINT at 'bringing back the good ol' days', or anything of the sort.

The FACT is, there has been a HUGE blurring of the lines of responsibility and ethics since the 60's and 70's. When I was a child, teachers, neighbors, etc., would in fact be able to give a child a stiff whack and send them home to mom & dad. When I was a young parent, there was an option, via signed consent, for teachers to administer limited corporal punishment. Nowadays, I'd just as soon the teacher/authority figure ring me up and let me know, so I can deal with it myself. Trust me, I'll impose a stiffer penalty than any teacher is able to do.

I'm sure, though, that you've noticed the parallels between the diminution of corporal punishment and the increased uncontrollability of children. Our "unenlightened" parents didn't seem to have as many problems with delinquency.

And, finally...NO, getting cracked by an SUV is not synonymous with a "whupping".

I don't know where you get the idea that it was ever accepted to hit another family's children. That is simply not the case.