Tyestick

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.

zandoval 

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...

bikeme

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.

the sci guy 

i hope you punched him in the throat.
awesome job dude.
Where did this happen? (where do you live?)

noglider 

I hope you press charges for breaking your cable.

Tyestick

Quote:

Originally Posted by zandoval

Bravo man...

Quote:

Originally Posted by zandoval

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...

40 pounds of chains… Just what I was trying to avoid. LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikeme

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the sci guy

i hope you punched him in the throat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by the sci guy

awesome job dude.
Where did this happen? (where do you live?)

Thanks boss.
This happened at the Buena Park Mall. Southern California.

godeacs

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.

doctor j

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?

Retro Grouch 

That's what I was wondering too. In Missouri it's (or at least it used to be) $1,500 purchase price.

rydabent

Good deal. At the price of bikes to day he could be charged with grand theft.

Cougrrcj

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...

ChloeP

Amazing job, well done! Not only did you get your bike, but the other guys bike too! As for thief, I really hope he gets charged!

vol

Imagine the scene!

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?

DEW21

Im hoping yatta, yatta, yatta was slang for.........

rolliepollie

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.

jsigone

this is why I walk in stores with my bikes.....good job mahn!!

Tyestick

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctor j

Congratulations on the collar. Good work!

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),

then the theft is considered the California crime of grand theft under Penal Code 487 PC.[SUP]2[/SUP]
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]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cougrrcj

Congrats for catching the thief!

Thank chief.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vol

Imagine the scene!

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEW21

Im hoping

LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by rolliepollie

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.

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!

syncro87

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.

bigfred 

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."

vol

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.

Squeeze

True, but on the other hand...(summoning my best internet bravado here)...no security = more time to "subdue" the thief.

muzpuf

subdued with extreme prejudice ....grin ....nice job

here is some theft proof chain for you

Tyestick

At that size, I'll only need one link. LOL

Murray Missile 

I hope you subdued him with "extreme prejudice".

longbeachgary

Good for you. I hope his jail time includes some rehab at the emergency room....