TheSergeant

What do I do?

A) Leave it there.
B) Leave a sign saying to call me if its yours and bring it into my apartment.
C) Bring it to the police department

HereNT

Lock it there with a laminated note. That way the note doesn't disappear, and neither does the bike.

Worst case, you have an extra lock...

dutret

take it, leave note.

AfterThisNap

ugh, if it's been sitting outside exposed all this time, imagine how nasty the insides are.
If you're desperate for a frame it may be worth a shot, but even if it's in decent shape it may not be worth it considering all the mangling or money you'll have to commit to to stop the rust then save/restore it.

bikingshearer 

I vote (B) - leave the note (and check to make sure it stays up for a while) and give that bike the shelter it needs. Be carefule about how much info you put in the note - you really do not want to open your apartment door only to be greeted by a gun in your face.

Me? Paranoid? Naaahhhh.

sers

B.

I would leave a small note on the fence with just your phone number "held for safekeeping" and sign it Good Samaritan.

Hang onto it for two weeks.

i can't imagine that anyone could care that little about such a nice bike to leave it out there.

roadfix

Leave a note, take the bike, and do the owner a big favor by stripping that ugly paint job.

carleton

WTF?

It's LOCKED on PRIVATE PROPERTY. What makes you think that it's free to take?

Yeah, that's smart. Steal a bike then tote it in and out of your apt which is right next to the scene of the crime. Yeah, no one is gonna notice that.

I think your legal bills would cost more that a brand new Colnago if you decide to "free" the bike and get busted.

carleton

breaking and entering

n. 1) the criminal act of entering a residence or other enclosed property through the slightest amount of force (even pushing open a door), without authorization. If there is intent to commit a crime, this is burglary. If there is no such intent, the breaking and entering alone is probably at least illegal trespass, which is a misdemeanor crime. 2) the criminal charge for the above.

carleton

burglary
n. the crime of breaking and entering into a structure for the purpose of committing a crime. No great force is needed (pushing open a door or slipping through an open window is sufficient) if the entry is unauthorized. Contrary to common belief, a burglary is not necessarily for theft. It can apply to any crime, such as assault or sexual harassment, whether the intended criminal act is committed or not. Originally under English common law burglary was limited to entry in residences at night, but it has been expanded to all criminal entries into any building, or even into a vehicle.

zip22

3 days? i would give it more time than that before you consider stealing it. if its on the side of your apartment building, why don't you ask the other tenants? i would imagine its theirs or belongs to someone they know.

Eatadonut

I was all set to respond "Steal it. If you can get over the ethical problem and admit it's theft, it's yours.", but 3 days? Dude, you have to wait.

hyperRevue

Yeah, this isn't even close to the ethical dilemma of "abandoned" property, if only because the property isn't ****ing abandoned.

dutret

He's leaving a NOTE. He is either preventing the theft of the bike and keeping it in good condition or claiming abandoned property. I think a valid argument could be made that leaving a nice bike outside is tantamount to abandoment anyway,

Colnago has not made that many bikes should be left outside or locked to anything period and the masterlights aren't included in that list. It would absurd for him to wait while the bike deteriorates from abuse before claiming it.

visitordesign

my understanding is more that the issue is, the bike may be stolen if it isn't brought inside or locked up. i don't think the OP is trying to steal the bike. seems more like he's just concerned.

HereNT

One reason I was suggesting locking and leaving the note. It might get damaged by the elements, but the person that left it there will be able to see that it hasn't been messed with, and the OP doesn't have to worry about letting someone into his building to give it back.

Of course, it does make it a lot harder to ask for proof that it's the real owner who calls... So maybe that's not such a great idea...

morbot

put a tarp over it?

pinkfixie

THAT'S MY BIKE!!
Can you send it to me??

just kidding. har har har.

It seems that the bike itself is not locked, just that it's inside a gate that's locked to the public and open to the tenants of his building.

I'm with the "leave a note with your number" crew. Take that poor baby inside and give it some good lovin'. (by way of some chrome polish of course)

West Los CA

yea its not locked to anything. just inside a locked gate. he isnt breaking and entering, its his appt building. riiiight? take it home and leave a note. that way you are honest, not stealing, protecting it, and quite possibly getting a new bike

Cynikal 

Put a note on everyone's door and take it inside or lock it with your lock.

carleton

You guys are like crack-heads justifying stealing drug money from your mom's purse...cuz she wasn't using it. Cuz if she was using it, it wouldn't be just laying around in her purse NOT BEING USED. Duh.

As much as I love crack...err...I mean...bikes, this is stealing, plain and simple.

You can get a bunch of people from a message board that you have probably never met to hype you up to do it. Fine. But, you obviously know that it's wrong. Otherwise there would be no question.

Ask yourself this: If it were a car, unlocked (but inside the apt complex), rusty, and unused for 3 days...would it be theft to take it?

Good luck with your decision.

hyperRevue

****, I have a nice car that I haven't moved in a few days.
I better go make sure it's still there.

carleton

Maybe treat it like finding a wallet in the hallway. Why not take it to the apartment building manager in the Leasing/Business Office instead of taking it into your apartment?

Tell them the story. Tell them that you got "dibs" if no one claims it.

C

YoKev

+1 for ask the neighbors first

You have now made a reasonable effort to locate the owner. Leave a note for a week or so just to tie up any loose ends. At the end of the notes useful life (whatever time period you decide upon), ask the neighbors one more time just to double check before you claim it as yours

Do you have any pictures of it to post?

YoKev

Comparing grand theft auto to grand theft Colnago is pointless. Everyone knows cops don't give a **** about bike thiefs

Plus, I know there are stupid people out there, but someone so stupid as to not lock up a Colnago!? Something is fishy...