high end bike thief busted with DNA evidence
02-22-08, 07:46 PM
#1
or tarckeemoon, depending
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,017
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
high end bike thief busted with DNA evidence
Already posted in Northwest but I think it deserves its own thread here. This was front page news in today's Seattle Times.
02-22-08, 07:59 PM
#3
Peloton Shelter Dog
If I owned a bicycle shop, I would require anybody to leave a photo driver's license to take a bicycle for a ride. No license, no ride, no exceptions. I'm astonished any pro bike shop wouldn't adhere to that policy. You can't take test drives @ most car dealerships without a driver's license. That would have made this guy's crime spree virtually impossible.
02-22-08, 08:11 PM
#4
newbie rider
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 481
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
i went to a shop that didn't ask for my drivers license. but they knew i had to go back to get my car so i couldn't just run away with it
02-22-08, 08:13 PM
#5
Peloton Shelter Dog
From the sound of it any bike shop that got ripped off given this scenario really, really, really deserved it. Man, that's pretty dumb. Not as dumb as a medical professional being reduced to a common thief, but close. There's a lot of dopiness in that news story. Maybe people in the Pacific NW are too trusting. We don't have that problem in NY. We don't trust nobody.
02-22-08, 08:19 PM
#6
Hip to the Game.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cracklanta, GA
Posts: 408
Bikes: Kona Lava Dome, Kapu 853
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Shops in Louisiana made us leave our license for a test ride. I figured it would be standard procedure everywhere...
02-22-08, 08:24 PM
#7
Royal Grand Exalted Pooba
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Eight Miles High
Posts: 1,361
Bikes: Time VXR ProTeam, Look 695, Pinarello Paris Carbon, Ridley Dean, Time ZXRS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yeah, i can't remember taking a test ride and not leaving both my driver's license and my credit card. heck, i went on a ride for a bit over an hour once, and when i got back, the shop told me they were ten minutes away from charging the card
__________________
'In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, "Make us your slaves, but feed us." '
-Fyodor Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor
'In the end they will lay their freedom at our feet and say to us, "Make us your slaves, but feed us." '
-Fyodor Dostoevsky's Grand Inquisitor
02-22-08, 08:29 PM
#8
or tarckeemoon, depending
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: the pesto of cities
Posts: 7,017
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Some shops ask me for ID and a card but others know me as a long time customer (and could track me down pretty easily).
Seems like the dude was in it for the thrill and made enough dough that nobody in his circle questioned him frequently showing up on a new $5-7K ride.
Seems like the dude was in it for the thrill and made enough dough that nobody in his circle questioned him frequently showing up on a new $5-7K ride.
02-22-08, 09:34 PM
#9
Peloton Shelter Dog
I'm going to try it here in NY. Then I'll post about my adventures here. Wait, that might not work so great. You'd all narc on me.
02-22-08, 09:41 PM
#10
Snail-paced new boy
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Cheshire, England
Posts: 1,828
Bikes: Colnago Extreme Power, Ribble Winter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My LBS' actually swipe your credit / debit card so they can just take the money!
02-22-08, 10:51 PM
#11
Living Life On Two Wheels
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Salinas in California
Posts: 484
Bikes: Giant Rincon 2007 Model - Black & Grey
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
that is pretty bad, why someone would never really answered that. To bad though, giving a bad name.
02-22-08, 10:58 PM
#12
Have bike. Will travel.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: -=Toronto=-
Posts: 2,157
Bikes: '06 Orbea Orca, '03 Rocky Mountain Vertex 70, '05 Surly Steamroller, '06 Fetish Fixation
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow, I can't believe they let him take it out on a name alone. Seems pretty idiotic, but I'm glad he was busted.
02-22-08, 11:59 PM
#13
cab horn
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 28,353
Bikes: 1987 Bianchi Campione
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
19 Posts
As we all know, even id + credit card is not enough for "test rides" sometimes.
02-23-08, 12:39 AM
#14
Senior Member
Maybe the shop wasn't all that worried about it... They had his DNA! I haven't had a shop ask for it yet, but maybe that will be standard procedure soon. "hey buddy, you can take the bike out for a test ride.. sure.. but ya gotta drink the coffee first."
02-23-08, 01:18 AM
#15
Don't mince words
02-23-08, 07:27 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 1,126
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The only reason that the DNA results were useful was a previous felony record. If he did not have that he would still be stealing bikes.
02-23-08, 07:39 AM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
From the sound of it any bike shop that got ripped off given this scenario really, really, really deserved it. Man, that's pretty dumb. Not as dumb as a medical professional being reduced to a common thief, but close. There's a lot of dopiness in that news story. Maybe people in the Pacific NW are too trusting. We don't have that problem in NY. We don't trust nobody.
02-23-08, 08:22 AM
#18
purity of essence
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NH
Posts: 2,260
Bikes: 2018 Giant Trance 2, 2019 Trek Farley 7, 2017 Jamis Renegade Exploit
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 37 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 26 Times
in
11 Posts
seems odd that a shop would let a 6k ride roll out the door w/out a license, but the guy probably social engineered his way around that. i'm trying to imagine him explaining to his fellow what's he in for.
"yeah, i'm a thief. a road bike thief."
"yeah, i'm a thief. a road bike thief."
02-23-08, 08:57 AM
#19
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,004
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11971 Post(s)
Liked 6,652 Times
in
3,485 Posts
"The thefts have also jarred a clubby community of elite cyclists who once considered Bos one of their own."
Hmmmmmm . . . . leaves you to wonder who amongst us might be harboring a similar dark side. From now on, I'm not leaving my bike alone around any of you.
Oh, my bad, they said "elite" cyclists. Never mind.
Hmmmmmm . . . . leaves you to wonder who amongst us might be harboring a similar dark side. From now on, I'm not leaving my bike alone around any of you.
Oh, my bad, they said "elite" cyclists. Never mind.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
02-23-08, 12:32 PM
#20
in the ground
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 204
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
yeah same thing with a few of the test rides i took...funny thing is, they let me out on bikes that cost as much if not more then my car. lol, i shoulda stole them. not really.
02-23-08, 12:34 PM
#21
Run What 'Ya Brung
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,694
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is Jacob Bos actually Theo Bos' poor, dumb brother? Maybe he was stealing bikes for him.
Also, I've never test-ridden a bike and never had to throw down some kind of ID. When I was testing out a Felt, I definitely had to put down a CC, because the guy at the counter joked that they were going to charge it to my card if I didn't come back.
Also, I've never test-ridden a bike and never had to throw down some kind of ID. When I was testing out a Felt, I definitely had to put down a CC, because the guy at the counter joked that they were going to charge it to my card if I didn't come back.
02-23-08, 03:55 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 84
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I actually bought my bike from that shop. They're an incredible shop, some of the best customer service I have experienced from an LBS out here. But they are very trusting. Before taking my bike for a test ride, I just left the bike I rode in on in their shop, they didn't think I would steal the bike I was out test riding just for that reason. I don't recall being asked for to give them my drivers license though. So, I guess one could get away with it...
02-23-08, 05:32 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: New York metro area
Posts: 458
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
From the sound of it any bike shop that got ripped off given this scenario really, really, really deserved it. Man, that's pretty dumb. Not as dumb as a medical professional being reduced to a common thief, but close. There's a lot of dopiness in that news story. Maybe people in the Pacific NW are too trusting. We don't have that problem in NY. We don't trust nobody.
Not true. P******* bike shop where you fixed your BB has a surprisingly trusting staff. No ID to test ride any $5,000 bike. Loads of $5k+ bikes on bike racks outside the shop. Apparently no theft or at least that is what they say. Pretty amazing really.