Caught a bike thief today...
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Caught a bike thief today...
Started out as a normal day... Biking to the gym to get my daily workout in. Locked my bike up, and headed into Walmart to pick up a few essentials. As I was leaving Walmart, (now walking to the gym next door) I pass a older gentleman who's talking with mall security. As I continue walking, I see a male get off a bike, and walk around the corner. I heard some rustling, and thought to myself, there's nothing to rustle unless someone was trying to steal my bike... I pick up my pace, and sure enough, the thief had cut the lock to my bike, and was walking away with it heading toward the parking lot. I yelled, (Hey! That guy is stealing my bike!)
At this point, he was only 20 or so feet from where I had my bike locked up, and he tried to run with the bike before dropping it. He took off running, and I took off after him. I chased him across the parking lot and caught him. He tried to cut through some bushes, and jump a fence. I pulled him off the fence, and... Let's just say that I subdued him until the police arrived.
He pleaded with me, please don't have me arrested, yatta, yatta, yatta...
Remember that older guy that I mentioned earlier whom I spotted talking with Mall security? The bike thief had stolen his bike, and and the older gentleman was filing a report. The thief got off his bike, to steal mine... I ended up saving the older guys bike, as well as mine.
The bike was locked with a cable lock, because the U-Lock I have, I usually leave at work to lock my bike there. I bought the cable thinking it would provide the somewhat of the U-Lock, in a more flexible form.
I will be buying another U-Lock. Maybe even something stronger.
At this point, he was only 20 or so feet from where I had my bike locked up, and he tried to run with the bike before dropping it. He took off running, and I took off after him. I chased him across the parking lot and caught him. He tried to cut through some bushes, and jump a fence. I pulled him off the fence, and... Let's just say that I subdued him until the police arrived.
He pleaded with me, please don't have me arrested, yatta, yatta, yatta...
Remember that older guy that I mentioned earlier whom I spotted talking with Mall security? The bike thief had stolen his bike, and and the older gentleman was filing a report. The thief got off his bike, to steal mine... I ended up saving the older guys bike, as well as mine.
The bike was locked with a cable lock, because the U-Lock I have, I usually leave at work to lock my bike there. I bought the cable thinking it would provide the somewhat of the U-Lock, in a more flexible form.
I will be buying another U-Lock. Maybe even something stronger.
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Bravo man...
Its a crying shame that when you finally get your nice bike set up you have to carry 40 pounds of lock and chain...
And then still say a prayer when you leave it behind...
Its a crying shame that when you finally get your nice bike set up you have to carry 40 pounds of lock and chain...
And then still say a prayer when you leave it behind...
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Way to go. I like the 'subdued' part lol. That's the same cable I use to secure my bike to the roof rack--ugh. I thought it'd be enough as the rack itself isn't that beefy. Cutting through a cable is pretty easy with the right tools per your post. I'll be looking into a beefy chain solution.
Last edited by bikeme; 01-07-14 at 12:00 AM.
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I hope you press charges for breaking your cable.
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
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40 pounds of chains… Just what I was trying to avoid. LOL
Way to go. I like the 'subdued' part lol. That's the same cable I use to secure my bike to the roof rack--ugh. I thought it'd be enough as the rack itself isn't that beefy. Cutting through a cable is pretty easy with the right tools per your post. I'll be looking into a beefy chain solution.
I figure, if someone wants the bike bad enough, there's not going to be much that you can do to stop them. The tool that he had on hand, was a simple pair of gardening sheers. Made me sick to the stomach when I saw the cutters.
Thanks boss.
This happened at the Buena Park Mall. Southern California.
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Well done! Glad you caught the thief and saved 2 bikes. Wonder how often he'd pulled that stunt before getting nailed. Would love to know what happens to the POS.
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Congratulations on the collar. Good work!
Question. Based on the cost of the bike, or bikes in the case, does this theft count as a felony?
Question. Based on the cost of the bike, or bikes in the case, does this theft count as a felony?
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That's what I was wondering too. In Missouri it's (or at least it used to be) $1,500 purchase price.
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#11
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Congrats for catching the thief!
One of my high school buddies had caught a guy red-handed stealing the stereo out of his car. Chased him down and tackled him on the asphalt. Thief did a faceplant. I wonder if he learned anything that day...
One of my high school buddies had caught a guy red-handed stealing the stereo out of his car. Chased him down and tackled him on the asphalt. Thief did a faceplant. I wonder if he learned anything that day...
#13
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So he got off the other stolen bike to steal yours? Wonder how he planned to take away two bikes together? Or was he giving up one bike for another, better one?
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Nice man. Although I'd hesitate to subdue him if there's no security around. Getting the other guy's bike is a [huge] icing on the cake as well.
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this is why I walk in stores with my bikes.....good job mahn!!
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Yes. This is some information that I was able to dig up.
--------------------------------------------------------
The crime of theft in California law is defined as the unlawful taking of someone else's property.[SUP]1[/SUP] And when the property taken is
- valued at more than nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), OR
- a car or a firearm, OR
- taken directly off of the person it belongs to (as in a mugging, for example),
Penalties
In most cases, the offense of grand theft in California is a wobbler. This means that the prosecutor may choose to charge you with either misdemeanor or
felony grand theft.[SUP]3[/SUP]
The maximum potential sentence for misdemeanor grand theft is up to one (1) year in county jail.
For felony grand theft, you may be sentenced to sixteen (16) months, two (2) years, or three (3) years of incarceration.[SUP]4[/SUP]
Thank chief.
Yeah, what a scene! I don't think he planned on taking the two bikes... I think he ditched the older, more beat-up bike for the likes of mine. He certainly wasn't walking back to get the other bike when I say him with mine.
LOL
Security wasn't far behind because of the of gentleman they were taking a report for, and other patrons from the gym had seen the commotion and had came to help as well. The security offers and police offers where trying to get him to come out from the bushes, be the thief told them he would come out until I was away from the scene. I had already gotten my hands on him before everyone reached us.
Mind you, I'm a decent sized guy. 6'3, 220lbs... Fast on my feet though!
#18
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Nice work! Outstanding.
I love the begging when thieves get caught. Hey, I worked hard for the money to buy what you're trying to steal. I'm going to nail you to the wall, as I see it.
I love the begging when thieves get caught. Hey, I worked hard for the money to buy what you're trying to steal. I'm going to nail you to the wall, as I see it.
#19
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If he didn't want to go to jail, perhaps, he shouldn't have been stealing other's property.
I'm just imagining the scene, "No man! I'm not coming out of the bushs until you take away the big scary dude who beat my ass for stealing his bike."
I'm just imagining the scene, "No man! I'm not coming out of the bushs until you take away the big scary dude who beat my ass for stealing his bike."
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#20
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Now if he gets back at it after being released, he'll have learned a "don't be too greedy" lesson: just ride away on the beat-up bike and he'd be safe.
#21
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...I'd hesitate to subdue him if there's no security around...
#22
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subdued with extreme prejudice ....grin ....nice job
here is some theft proof chain for you
here is some theft proof chain for you
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At that size, I'll only need one link. LOL
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I hope you subdued him with "extreme prejudice".
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Started out as a normal day... Biking to the gym to get my daily workout in. Locked my bike up, and headed into Walmart to pick up a few essentials. As I was leaving Walmart, (now walking to the gym next door) I pass a older gentleman who's talking with mall security. As I continue walking, I see a male get off a bike, and walk around the corner. I heard some rustling, and thought to myself, there's nothing to rustle unless someone was trying to steal my bike... I pick up my pace, and sure enough, the thief had cut the lock to my bike, and was walking away with it heading toward the parking lot. I yelled, (Hey! That guy is stealing my bike!)
At this point, he was only 20 or so feet from where I had my bike locked up, and he tried to run with the bike before dropping it. He took off running, and I took off after him. I chased him across the parking lot and caught him. He tried to cut through some bushes, and jump a fence. I pulled him off the fence, and... Let's just say that I subdued him until the police arrived.
He pleaded with me, please don't have me arrested, yatta, yatta, yatta...
Remember that older guy that I mentioned earlier whom I spotted talking with Mall security? The bike thief had stolen his bike, and and the older gentleman was filing a report. The thief got off his bike, to steal mine... I ended up saving the older guys bike, as well as mine.
The bike was locked with a cable lock, because the U-Lock I have, I usually leave at work to lock my bike there. I bought the cable thinking it would provide the somewhat of the U-Lock, in a more flexible form.
I will be buying another U-Lock. Maybe even something stronger.
At this point, he was only 20 or so feet from where I had my bike locked up, and he tried to run with the bike before dropping it. He took off running, and I took off after him. I chased him across the parking lot and caught him. He tried to cut through some bushes, and jump a fence. I pulled him off the fence, and... Let's just say that I subdued him until the police arrived.
He pleaded with me, please don't have me arrested, yatta, yatta, yatta...
Remember that older guy that I mentioned earlier whom I spotted talking with Mall security? The bike thief had stolen his bike, and and the older gentleman was filing a report. The thief got off his bike, to steal mine... I ended up saving the older guys bike, as well as mine.
The bike was locked with a cable lock, because the U-Lock I have, I usually leave at work to lock my bike there. I bought the cable thinking it would provide the somewhat of the U-Lock, in a more flexible form.
I will be buying another U-Lock. Maybe even something stronger.