Northern California - Could anyone near Berkeley please check on my possibly stolen bike for sale?

There is a bike in Craigslist that looks very similar to my stolen Schwinn Le Tour. Same small size, same color, became available the same time mine was taken. I know Berkeley is a long way from San Jose. How could it be there???
I have no personal knowledge about this bike shop, however, people in Yelp are saying a lot of stolen bikes are there.
Here's the ad
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/bik/1838157836.html


compare it to this bike

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/bik/1841750642.html

Sure, some things are different on both bikes. Things that are easily changed.

If anyone wants to drop by the store and check the serial number, it could be worth $100.00 to you.
2800 Telegraph Ave
(between Stuart St & Oregon St)
Berkeley, CA 94705
Neighborhood: South Berkeley

If it's my bike, and if you get it for me, I'll pay $100.00 cash. I don't care how you get it. Preferred method would be call police and have them take it for me.
Serial number T49194 the "T" is hard to make out. It could look like a 1

Here's a picture of the serial #
http://www.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=119355&d=1255543894

Police report #10 177 0793 San Jose PD 6/26/10 Officer Ferguson #3921

I posted this earlier, but was short on time and I didn't do it right. I had about two minutes left of lunch hour when I saw the bike for sale. I panicked and wrote the message as fast as possible.

I agree with Tapeworm from your other thread -too many differences. Looks like the chainrings might be slightly different as well as the bars. That's a lot of effort to go to and just doesn't sound like the sellers MO from what I've read on this board.

I suspect that it's not the kind of place you want to roll into and start checking serial numbers unless you have a badge. If you're willing to part with $100 then why not just buy it for $60 more. If it looks like your bike when you see it in the flesh, then I'd consider going back with a cop before parting with cash.

I agree with Tapeworm from your other thread -too many differences. Looks like the chainrings might be slightly different as well as the bars. That's a lot of effort to go to and just doesn't sound like the sellers MO from what I've read on this board.

I suspect that it's not the kind of place you want to roll into and start checking serial numbers unless you have a badge. If you're willing to part with $100 then why not just buy it for $60 more. If it looks like your bike when you see it in the flesh, then I'd consider going back with a cop before parting with cash.


better than 50/50 chance you're right. It's not mine. I just thought if anyone is nearby, they could check. Just drop in with the serial # written down and check it. You don't have to be obvious about the #. Look it over real well and then just glance at it real quick. Don't just go to the number right away. Be cool about it.
I've seen people work together like this in other forums.
I tried calling, but no answer and machine is always full, can't take messages. Berkeley is a long way to drive for a bike that might be sold when I get there. He sounds like a flake and the shop might not even be open when I get there. I'm working at least 6 days per week, 7 when I can. Really don't want to drive there for nothing on a rare day off. The bike would be nice to have even if it's not my original one.
Yes, for sure the bike (if it's mine) is worth more than 160 to me. I had it 34 years and planned to keep it until die. I only had the one bike. That's all I need and want as far as bikes go. It had a lot of sentimental value.

better than 50/50 chance you're right. It's not mine. I just thought if anyone is nearby, they could check. Just drop in with the serial # written down and check it. You don't have to be obvious about the #. Look it over real well and then just glance at it real quick. Don't just go to the number right away. Be cool about it.
I've seen people work together like this in other forums.
I tried calling, but no answer and machine is always full, can't take messages. Berkeley is a long way to drive for a bike that might be sold when I get there. He sounds like a flake and the shop might not even be open when I get there. I'm working at least 6 days per week, 7 when I can. Really don't want to drive there for nothing on a rare day off. The bike would be nice to have even if it's not my original one.
Yes, for sure the bike (if it's mine) is worth more than 160 to me. I had it 34 years and planned to keep it until die. I only had the one bike. That's all I need and want as far as bikes go. It had a lot of sentimental value.

I can see why you'd want that exact bike back. Bike thieves suck! I'd help you out if I were closer.

What makes this scenerio really interesting is the timing. When Larry first posted (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?658066-(1977-approx)-Schwinn-Le-Tour-stolen-in-San-Jose.-Seen-it) his stolen bike, a CL ad popped up with description similar to his bike on the same day of his post and from all places, you know who. The add had no pictures, just text. Now it's been several weeks and a picture has been added. It does raises the level of suspicion just from the timing alone.

I would go and take a look but not alone in that place.

Is it at Karim? I would go check it out for you for free, but I work during the day and am tied up tomorrow. That place is sketch (picture a Seven-11-sized store (or even a little bigger) jammed from wall to wall with bikes, most of them junk), but they have been busted by the cops (not sure there was a conviction, you can look at the old newspaper articles for more info) and may have cleaned up their act. That said, I don't think it's dangerous to look around the shop. If they get suspicious, however, they might hide the bike and wait for a while to try to sell it again. Are there any other identifying marks or things that would make your bike unique?

Ah good old Karim Bicycles, first place to look if your bike was lifted in or near CAL.

<i>2800 Telegraph Av nearAshby Berkeley</i> is a dead giveaway that it's Karim's shop of stolen bicycles. Avoid that cesspool.

Are there any other identifying marks or things that would make your bike unique?

The right side peddle has a dent in it. One time a friend took it without my permission. If he had asked, I would have told him to tighten the front wheel first. It came off. He crashed it into a curb and dented the peddle.
There could be beef fat residue on the peddles. I'm a butcher and I ride home for lunch in my work boots. Down at the bottom of the piece of frame that comes down from the seat and meets the peddle area is an old sticker from where I bought it. A black sticker from "Morgan Hill Bike Shop"

There could be beef fat residue on the peddles. I'm a butcher and I ride home for lunch in my work boots.

There is probably only one bike the whole world like this, hah! That has to be the most unique (I know I can't use "most unique" grammar nazis) identifying feature of a bike ever.

Oh, poop. I live in Berkeley and would love nothing better than to help take this $#!^ down, but I am on the road for the rest of the month. If this isn't resolved before then and the ad is still up, let me know and maybe ROJA and I can go over.

.
There could be beef fat residue on the peddles. I'm a butcher and I ride home for lunch in my work boots.

Even been chased by dogs? Now we know why.

Even been chased by dogs? Now we know why.

Ha ha. True. I go in a bike shop (happy trails cyclery San Jose) next to my store in my work boots and pants. The owner keeps his little dog there. A small poodle like dog, but not a poodle. I LOVE that dog! It seems to like me too, or meat anyway. He always comes up to me and sniffs all the delicious meat odors.
But you should have seen my peddles. They had lots of animal grease from two years of riding home from work.

Hey Larry- I went by Karim's yesterday at the end of my ride, but the shop had closed already. Sorry about that. Too bad, because I had already concocted a story about how I was looking for a bike for my wife and that I had seen the ad on CL, my wife liked classic bikes, etc. Too bad I didn't get to try out my acting skills. I have a class all day today, but could try for next week or BShearer and I could try to go together when he is back.

Hopefully this will work out OK, OP.

ROJA and bikingshearer - now that would be a formidable combination.

http://www.mindtrance.net/walter.jpg

Hey Larry- I went by Karim's yesterday at the end of my ride, but the shop had closed already. Sorry about that. Too bad, because I had already concocted a story about how I was looking for a bike for my wife and that I had seen the ad on CL, my wife liked classic bikes, etc. Too bad I didn't get to try out my acting skills. I have a class all day today, but could try for next week or BShearer and I could try to go together when he is back.


Thank you ROJA. I appreciate your effort.

I'd be interested to see how this turns out. Good luck with that. My wheel was stolen off my beloved bike, and I was nearly catatonic for the day, and I was a wreck for many weeks after looking for that damn wheel. I even walked around with pictures. *sigh*

Good luck!

koffee

I'd be interested to see how this turns out. Good luck with that. My wheel was stolen off my beloved bike, and I was nearly catatonic for the day, and I was a wreck for many weeks after looking for that damn wheel. I even walked around with pictures. *sigh*

Good luck!

koffee

I carried a picture of my bike, but a wheel? That tops me. Plus, I learned a new word.

I carried a picture of my bike, but a wheel? That tops me. Plus, I learned a new word.

Goodness- it was worse than that. I carried a folder full of color pictures of my wheels and walked around to every single bike shop I could find. I also went to homeless shelters, posted around campus, and checked in with security. I was a mess. It really really REALLY hurt deep when I found it stolen. Actually, it still hurts, and that was several years ago. *sigh* I got identical new wheels, but I can't help but still look at my bike and be kind of sad. I had that damn bike built from scratch, flew all the way to Italy, toured several bike factories, and lovingly participated in the measurements and picked out all the other components. Now, it's never gonna be the same again. :(

koffee

Goodness- it was worse than that. I carried a folder full of color pictures of my wheels and walked around to every single bike shop I could find. I also went to homeless shelters, posted around campus, and checked in with security. I was a mess. It really really REALLY hurt deep when I found it stolen. Actually, it still hurts, and that was several years ago. *sigh* I got identical new wheels, but I can't help but still look at my bike and be kind of sad. I had that damn bike built from scratch, flew all the way to Italy, toured several bike factories, and lovingly participated in the measurements and picked out all the other components. Now, it's never gonna be the same again. :(

koffee


I understand now. I'd be sad too. Relative to 99% of the bikes you all (with just one bike) have, I'd guess that mine was a piece of junk. I mean it's not valuable to anyone but me. That doesn't matter. I bought it new 34 years ago and it's been my friend since then. I've always had only one car (always old cars) and my trusty bike was reliable back up transportation. Maybe not a good analogy, but if someone steals your old dog, you don't want a new dog to replace it.