Thinking About Taking This Bike
 

So for about 4 weeks now Ive been staring at this open locker door with a roadbike in it. I went over and looked at it today, its a Trek 1200 that needs some TLC. right off the back the brakes are shot, probably needs a few new accessories for the shifting system, as its a tension system (just move a lever a certain amount per gear). The tires are flat, its got an old speedo on it and a lock with the keys clipped on to the cable (not locked up though). I closed the door, but Im considering taking this bike to the shop and seeing if they can do anything with it..
Is it worth it?

Maybe fix it up and put it back in the locker?

Take the bike and leave a note.

Im thinking about it.. I left the door open for 3 weeks, and nobody has even looked at it. problem is this bike seriously needs some work. we will see..

Unless I'm missing something here, taking something that doesn't belong to you is stealing.

Thanks for the sanity check. That was my first thought too.

If you want it that bad maybe find out who has the locker and contact them. Without that permission in my book it's stealing too.

esp. since it's in a locker...not just at a random rack or something. I would leave it...but it's your call.

sounds like maybe somebody went away, threw the bike in a locker, and will come back for it at a later time?

It looks like somebody bought it, gave up on it and left it there. There is no rack outside my Barracks, so the locker is a given.. However, they just left the door open with no lock or anything on it. the bike even has a lock around the frame with the keys on it. I understand it would be stealing, but its been 3 weeks since that door has been open revealing the bike and nobody has taken a second look. theres no way somebody just went on leave and is coming back for it because its in no way ride-able condition

...

Does this translate to "no one's stolen it yet so I'm going to"? I'm trying to figure out why this is even a discussion point.

At some point property that is abandoned officially becomes abandoned property. You can't steal something that has been abandoned, since the previous owner renounced the rights to the property by abandoning it. The local police department even holds an annual auction for stolen property that was later recovered, but went unclaimed by the owner.

If you're on a military base, I'd check with someone in your command before you do anything. In my experience bikes on base were supposed to be registered with the MP's.

It could also have been the property of someone who is no longer stationed on the base, but I'd be more concerned that the bike was stolen, even from off base, and ditched by the thief, instead of the owner just leaving the bike behind.

From a military point of view, it's better to cover thy butt, by asking the local authorities rather than sticking your neck out.

Not quite the same thing, but I knew a guy who served nine months in a Japanese prison for stealing a car stereo from a Japanese citizen while he was stationed at the Marine Corps air station on Okinawa. They kicked him out of the military after he returned stateside. One bad decision cost him quite alot.

:roflmao2:

Seriously?

:roflmao2:

If it's not yours, just walking up and taking the bike would be stealing. In regards to declaring it abanoned property, I'd involve the police.

if the locker you are talking about is in an apartment building. check with the landlord or super. perhaps they know the tenant or if she moved on and left it behind.

Maybe it's a BOMB!! :eek: :twitchy: :eek:

I feel your pain
 

There is this small business that I ride my bike by everyday, and for the past 6 months I noticed an "abandoned" road bike, looks like a peugot. I called and asked a lady and she said it belongs to a co-worker and is not for sale...this bike has no lock on it, how it is not already gone I will never know, but it is still sitting in the same position. I know I am being a jerk, but I honestly want to go up there with cash in hand and say "sale me the damn bike".........

abandonment is the issue.

Abandonment IS the issue, but WHO abandoned the bike? Perhaps a thief stole the bike, and then abandoned it. If the rightful owner made a police report, with the serial number of the bike in the report, and you are caught riding it, there could be unpleasant consequences. The proper way to take possession of abandoned property is to report it to police. Many jurisdictions have a system of a finder being able to claim property after a certain period of time, if no owner can be located.

Barracks? Are you on a military base? If so, maybe the owner of the bike is on a tour of duty somewhere. That would take longer than three weeks. I'd recommend not stealing the bike.

my thoughts exactly. Our finest serving with honor deserve to have all of us respect there stuff and have their back on the home front. It is the least you can do.