WCroadie

I received this email this morning, southeastern, PA cyclists please keep your eyes open for these bikes/guys. Thanks.

Subject: Stolen bikes from Keswick cycle

Hello everyone:

I had two bikes stolen tonight from the Keswick Cycle Glenside, Pa
store. I am offering a $1000 reward per bike. I want the bikes back
but I also want the individuals responsible for it to be arrested. The
first bike was a

Specialized Tarmac S-works 56cm with Dura ace. It had a white saddle and

white handle bar tape. The second was a Pinarello f4:13 in a 55cm. It
was carbon with red and white decals. Both bike would really stand out
with whom ever was riding them.I am very upset and want to get the word
out. The two guys who stole the bikes have the following descriptions.
First guy around 5,10" to 6 foot. Caucasian with blond hair and was thin
but athletic. He was definitely either a rower, runner or cyclist. He
was wearing pearl izumi

bike shorts a black sweatshirt and a baseball cap. He was in his late
teens or early twenties. He claimed to be a Penn student who was
graduating and was check out bikes for a graduation present. He was
also seen in Bicycle Therapy on south street recently trying to test
ride bikes late last week.
He also claimed to be a penn student there as well.

Second guy was a bit shorter, caucasian but had a very similar build.
They
both look like rowers, runners or cyclist. They were both very fit and
knew bikes. They second one had brown hair and kind of looked like he
had dreadlocks a little bit. His hair was definitely long than the
taller kid.
He wore glasses. He was wearing pearl izumi shorts, a navy sweat shirt
and a blue Nike hat.
The taller one used the name Michael Singelton or Michael Singeltary.
I definitely think they were local, probably in college and athletes of
some sort. Please keep your eyes out in the up coming weeks for these
bike.
They
will definitely stand out!
Please pass this out anyone you know.
Remember a $1000 reward per bike as long as it leads to an arrest of the

individuals who stole the bikes.
thanks for your help

Brian

Keswick Cycle Co.
www.keswickcycle. com
salesstaff@keswickc ycle.com
215-885-RIDE (7433)

slowandsteady

How did they steal the bikes?

Siu Blue Wind

Sounds like a test ride run off.

Dang I hope they catch these creeps.

ElJamoquio

No kidding. Hopefully they're checking craiglist, etc...

but you give out a $X000 bike without any ID?

ridethecliche

Wouldn't you hold someone's license and things while they test rode your bikes?

I'd say atleast leave wallet/keys right?

djbowen1

1000 reward IF it leads to an arrest, with the legal system the way it is an arrest isnt always gauranteed. I would happily turn them in for no reward, maybe a nice shop discount!

Unfortunetly specialized is so damn popular that one wont stand out. Maybe the Pinnarello.

Blue Jays

BUMP for increased visibility. I hate Pennsylvania bicycle thieves.

jinws

fixed. Hope they catch those guys.

WCroadie

Yes it sounds like they were talking to the LBS then went for a test ride. I don't personally know the guy who owns the LBS, I was just forwarded his email this morning so I thought I'd get the word out here.

The point is not to criticize the LBS owner(not saying anyone is) I just wanted to get the word out. Yes if I were the owner I would want the tester to leave a wallet/license etc. before they took my $5500 bike out for a spin.

I did mention to the guy who sent me the email to keep an eye out on craigslist and ebay.

Siu Blue Wind

The guys could have handed over fake ID's though. Home made ID's are all over the place where I am.

slowandsteady

It is darn near impossible to make a fake PA ID.

Siu Blue Wind

Oh okay. Sorry.

We have a lot of border jumpers in Cali. There are fake ID makers all over. Some of them are actually pretty good. We found out one of our neighbors was involved in the production of such when the cops came storming in his house.

linus

You'll be amazed what people can make.....

jccaclimber

I seriously doubt that. Even if it is hard, it's WAY cheaper than those bikes. Go to the Red River Gorge, KY and watch the ID's of the younger climbers/hikers/outdoor enthusiasts who frequent the area when they buy alcohol. There are a TON of fake ID's from nearly every state in the Midwest there.

slowandsteady

I bet there are, and up until recently the NJ license looked no better than something out of a cracker jack box. In fact, most places will refuse to even accept it as a form of ID!!!

But the PA license has two images, multiple holograms, bar codes and a magnetic stripe. But even if it was faked, wouldn't the shop owner have photocopied the IDs before he let them test ride $5k bikes? Even if the ID was fake, he would have a real picture of the guys to hand over to the police.

Blue Jays

"I hate Pennsylvania bicycle thieves" is a modification of a movie quote from the 1980 film The Blues Brothers starring John Belushi, the late, great Albanian-American actor.

rooftest

Wait a second - the guy showed up for a test-ride wearing lycra? (the PI bike shorts)

CrimsonKarter21

And a sweatshirt?

jinws

Oops, sorry. heard it was a good movie, I've only seen it in bits and pieces though.

Blue Jays

/\/\ The original movie quote is:

"...Illinois Nazis
I hate Illinois Nazis..."

Hopefully these thieving jerks are caught. Toss 'em in jail each weekend for a year and pay a penalty equivalent to twice the retail value of both bikes combined. That should put them permanently on the straight and narrow.

oilman_15106

Impossible to make a fake PA id? In PA we have lots of fake roads, the state can not figure out how to build real ones.

entukay

not impossible

but that was in my younger days

asherlighn

Bikes are probably taken apart and being sold piecemeal on ebay now.

roadwarrior

Wow...that's a lot of bike to lose. If that's a smaller shop, that can be painful.

It always makes us nervous when someone shows up that looks like they probably cannot afford the bike they want to test (college students looking at $5,000 bikes for example). You have to be real careful as you don't know their situation and don't want to insult anyone, but we try to really control the ride and pay attention to them, always having someone nearby. We also try to pre-qualify them, gently, trying to learn as much as we can about them by asking good questions about their riding, what they have now, etc...
We also do a good job sharing info amongst the shops...be on the lookout for...

I had a lady come in once, that appeared to be not a person who wanted to look at $2,500 dual suspension MTB's, which she did. So we started talking about the bikes, fit, etc...she says to me that she has back problems and fit is important to her. She rides pretty often. So, I ask, what's up with your back?
"I sit a lot on my job."

"Office work?"

"No, I am a captain for Fed Ex and fly DC 10's back and forth across the country."

Oh.

Blaireau

They could have given an out of state ID -- I believe you can go to Pen without being a Penn resident....