Stealing is sometimes Ethical
In Manhattan, in Soho, there is a beautiful bianchi pista single speed locked up in front of this dance studio I go to with my fiancee. After every dance class, I see the bike locked up in the same place. I figured it belonged to our instructor. Even after a late performance the bike was still out there. I was like "wow, it's pretty late to leave a nice bike like that on the street"
This is the exact bike I want to buy my fiance, every time we walk by it, I'm like "that bike is going to be perfect for you. we should buy it." I could tell just by looking at the frame that it is about her size.
Conspicuously, the bike never ever moved. So one day we walk by, and that **** is totally stripped, pedals, seat, head, handles, backtire. Only the front tire and the frame are left, they are attached to the bike stand with one of those kryptonite NY locks.
I said, "whoever owns that is going to be really upset. That is a nice bike". A week later, the bike frame and tire are still there, sadly locked to the bike stand. What happens next in NY is this: people will step on the frame as they crowd in shopping, just destroying it. there must be hundreds of these carcasses all over the city. Obviously, no one gives a **** about this bike, some stupid super model bought it on a whim and then got bored with it.
So I went back with a hacksaw and tried to get through that lock, but man, that hardened steel is tough. I could even get any kind of purchase with the teeth after sawing for a half hour at noon on a sunday. I mean, if the police stopped me, I would have just pleaded my case for the poor bianchi frame doomed to die. but, no one stopped me, even though a lot of people stared, and I couldn't get through it anyway. Now, I guess the only thing to do is get an angle grinder with a long extension cord, so I guess it isn't worth it, but it sure is a shame. I've considered asking the police if they would cut the lock for me. What do you think I should do? Just leave it for dead?