So the old saying of "park next to bikes nicer than your's and make your's harder to steal" seems to have some validity to it.

It would be interesting to know "the way" that they use CL, probably just the wording and pics to make it appear that they are the legitimate owner, and probably price the stolen property at a market value price. They probably also use new email addresses on a regular basis.

And be thankfull that you didn't return to your car to find it ransacked or stolen, that would have been interesting if it turned out that the "bike thief" story was just a ruse to keep you away from your car while their partners took care of business.

It also would have been interesting to have pulled a cycling multi-tool out of your briefcase or carry bag to trim a loose string from your clothing just to see the thieves's reactions to finding out that you're a cyclist as well. Pulling out a bloody pedal wrench would have been interesting as well, just to see their reaction, along with a story of how you just recoved a bike that was stolen from you the day before, then thank them for their information which you will pass along to all your friends along with the cell phone pics of them that you took (you did take pics of them, didn't you?).

I'm thinking they were doing some bragging, and were maybe sizing you up as a potential recruit into their business.

Side question to Cyclomania (or anyone who knows),
Where is that doored cyclist artwork located? Is there a story to it (apart from the obvious) ?

Fascinating thread and story.

I've thought of doing a public service video for college students about bike theft and it's prevention.

At Boston University, where my wife teaches, I'll meet her after work and sometimes get to the bike rack before her and I'll have time to scan the rack like a bike thief. I could walk away with at least 3 bikes without bolt cutters, liquid nitrogen or tools of any kind in well under 3 minutes.

How?

First off there are probably 100 bikes locked there on a nice day during the school year. Of that 100 at least 10 percent are poorly or inadequately locked. So, you find those 10 bikes and find one where only the front wheel is locked to the bike rack. Release the front wheel and you have a bike minus a front wheel. Then you find the bike where the rear wheel and/or only the frame is locked. Take that front wheel and now you have 1 complete bike.

Then you find the rack that is not securely bolted to the ground and the bike at the end- let's say a fixie with non-QR wheels so the owner just casually locks the frame to the rack and you lift the rack, slide the bike off the rack and bike #2 with a lock you can cut off the frame at a later time.

It's just a matter of mix and match of the above formula. Sometimes it's taking the rear wheel from one bike and substituting the rear wheel from another and on and on and on...

And to delude oneself into believing "someone would notice" or even "someone would care, if they noticed" is hopelessly naive.

I think it was plop art during the 90s that ended up in SF civic center for a time then probably speedily removed by the city!
http://artsandmedia.net/2006/07/the_...ways_open.html

Very interesting story. I think I would have wanted to extend the conversation as well. It's always nice to know what we're up against.

Wow. Good read. Just makes me want to lock up my bike anywhere even less.

Forget the police. I really wish the OP had taken pictures of the thieves and posted those on CraigsList.

Then maybe they would get multiple beatings.

This is a good example of why I wont let my bike out of my sight if I'm out and about. I'm known to sometimes lock my bike with a really cheap lock + cable that would take a person with a hacksaw about 15-20 seconds. Thing is, it takes me 5 seconds or less to get there. I essentially just use it to keep someone from grabbing it and riding away.

Once I have my next bike, I will probably never leave it unattended at all. Wont let me walk around your store with it? Not buying from you. Have an issue with it in your handicap stall? Oh well, someone else wont.

As for the OP not bashing these guys, I think he did the right thing. They'd have had a lot more money if he'd have been charged with assault & battery and they got whatever cousin vinnie type they could find to sue him. I wish he'd have been able to ask them how they identify each other so they know who the other thieves are. It would be nice to have a method of identifying them.

Have they ever been hurt?

The delivery men are constantly using the rack I'm on.

I feel that is a great deterrent.

Also, after nearly a year of hard urban cycling, my bike ain't so pretty.

Knowing what it's like to have 3 bikes stolen from me, I would have loved to have gotten their pic for the cops.

Points frantically at pics.... "These are bike thieves, CATCH THEM!"

You should've went under cover. Find out who these guys are. Get there number. Record their conversation and turn then over to the police!!! Just a thought but of is possible and image all the bikes you would beE] saving if these guys would be put behind bars.