This is a message I got from the Memphis Hightailers. Thank goodness I had to take my kitty to the vet this weekend! I was gonna go on this ride! Please give any suggestions. Thanks,

Nat

HT Special Bulletin

WARNING !!!

An old Hightailer problem has resurfaced. Five Hightailer’s cars were broken into during the Saturday morning ride today. Three were HT members and two were new riders with the group. Four were women. This occurred in the Super Lo parking lot where we customarily start the rides. The MPD was notified and has investigated.

Those who have been around awhile remember that, until about 4 – 5 years ago, we started the Saturday and Sunday rides in Audubon Park until break-ins drove us away. The M.O. here seems very similar to the old one. It is quite possibly the same people. They were obviously skilled and probably professional thieves. It was obvious at Audubon Park that the thieves would watch as we gathered so they could determine which cars belonged to bicycle riders. They would then strike shortly after we left. Cars driven by women were the ones they wanted, obviously thinking they would be likely to leave purses in their vehicles. They also had a preference for red vehicles – reason unknown. They were always after cash and especially credit cards. By the time riders returned they would find hundreds to thousands of dollars had been charged to their cards even if they called immediately.

We obtained permission from the old Bagel Street Café to use their parking lot and moved away from Audubon. The lot is now the Super Lo – Romeo’s Pizza lot and this is the first problem. It is possible that we will be ordered to leave the lot since we obviously bring problems. Bicycle riders vehicle’s are an easy target since they know we will be gone for awhile. Does anyone have any suggestions

You might try leaving someone behind with the cars.

You could also try parking at individual locations a short distance away (a mile or two) and then cycling to a central meeting point. This disperses the cars over a wide area (several square miles). Try choosing different individual parking spots each time.

Carpool.

Forget the cars altogether and cycle to the meeting point.


just a few ideas.

Great..thanks. Gonna send that to the Hightailers if ya don't mind..

I'd talk to the local police about it, and see if they can't set up some kind of "sting" operation -- have a plainclothes officer hang around out-of-view of the parking lot, and when the thieves make their move, nail 'em. Should prevent the problem in the future...

Either that, or hire someone to hang around in a nearby tree with an AR-15, a silencer, and some decent optics. Nothing says, "Leave my car alone" like a NATO .223 round being fired through a kneecap.

Ooh..wouldn't it be cool to somehow wire the cars to shock the crap out of anyone who touches them??? That would be fun to hide and watch!

Matadon I like the way you think!

Y'all could come up to Obion county and ride I hardly ever see another bike on the roads!