uke

Heh. Reminds me of this greatness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2yv8aT0UFc

xlazymx

i have a theater RIGHT next to where i live but lots of A-Holes always hanging out over there on weekends will definitely jack up my bike

erichsia

Except that a lot of bikes get stolen by street bums and ****head kids too, people that might never consider robbery an option. You can't just assume that because someone tried to steal your bike they're going to turn into crimes against humanity. And you can't assume that the *****es that jacked my friend up started off stealing bicycles. I'm all for making a safer community, but it seems like a lot of the posters on this thread are talking about street justice. Bicycle sting? I'd rather have that time and effort go into stopping drug dealers and gangs. If the criminal element is just bicycle theft, then move me into your neighborhood. Beats the crazy burned vet living across the street from me who threatened my immigrant neighbors with a pick ax the other week, or the crack house up the block that just got razed a month back.

And crime doesn't always start from a small act; sometimes it starts from perceived necessity and snowballs into something much more serious. All I see here is people wanting to threaten violence over an attempted bike theft. I realize this is a bicycling forum, but priorities really seem skewed here. Guess I shouldn't be all that surprised.

Catnap 

i second that thought.

the_joncarlo

I'm suggesting bringing these people to the authorities. Not some kind of street justice. Documentation of them performing theft, and hopefully footage of them taking the bike back to where they store their ill gotten loot. I would never stoop to the level of bringing violence upon someone, and I definitely wouldn't go to jail for some POS, be they a crack addict kids, street bums, or a gang of bike thieves.

Steve90068

i think if word spread that people in the bike community were watching out for each others bikes in public areas and that groups of people have been busted because they were caught stealing bikes the rate of bike theft would go down

That's all we are saying....not so much tackling drug trade, vet beatings, threatening immigrants or stopping all crimes against humanity.

its a bike forum.....people are looking at ways to stop bike thieves. if we want to stop drug dealing and gangs we will post somewhere else

mr_macgee

I live in LA and put a lot of miles daily on a fixie doing errands, shopping, bar hopping.....etc. In the past year I have seen a massive increase in fixie's and hence there profile in the community has increased ten-folds.

If I were a bike thief, fixie's are the best bet to go after. No one is really leaving nice mountain bikes, cruisers or good road bikes locked up on the street anymore, all that is left are s*itty huffy's and fixed gear bikes. I think the days of just putting a lock through the triangle is over. If the thieves have clued into bringing the right tools for the job. A 15mm wrench, some allen keys and your bike is pretty much stripped of hundreds of dollars of gear and that's if you have a good lock and even then chances are good of the whole bike walking away. It sucks! I'm sure some of what we see on CraigsList and eBay are those parts and frames.

I'm looking at three really nice track frames I would love to build up with good gear and turn one into a really nice townie but instead I'm riding my beater Kilo. Sometimes I come out of the bar surprised the bike is still there. It sucks that there's low life's ripping off and destroying others property but in the fixed gear world it's only going to get worse with the pubic awareness of what a fixed gear bike is and our economy going into the dumps.

This became a huge problem back in 1990 when everyone started getting mountain bikes for daily rides after a while the thieves came in licking there chomps.

I don't know what the solution is but I'm still going to keep riding my beater Kilo (ps: great bike) daily and if it gets ripped off, it's only $300 of a bike that I already got my monies worth out of. I make sure I have enough money to take a taxi home and hope I can get another without waiting too long for.

I'm not going to worry about it because to me it's a beater and I love riding. Taking a huge heavy ass chain & lock everywhere I go goes against why I started riding a fixed. I can't let the thieves get to me, Fuc* them!

I would love to see bikes thieves disappear.

Cheers,

M

erichsia

There's definitely more than just recording and reporting to the authorities going on here. A number of people are advocating violence, which is what a lot of communal acts backed by anger/getting even result in. Violence has a time and a place. This just isn't one of them. That's all I'm saying.

devilshaircut

The problem for me is that, I want to have a really nice bike and ride it too. I don't wanna build a beautiful bike and leave it at home.

But then again, if I take it out, someone could easily take my saddle and handlebars with minimal tools, both of which are extremely expensive components.

I usually lock my Aerospoke up, so it is safe, but I can't lock both wheels up!

Do I really have to carry a huge chain and lock with me?

What is the solution for those of us who don't wanna ride a beater around, but don't wanna get hundreds of dollars of equipment stolen either? D:

the_joncarlo

I've already spoken my peace about what I intend to do. I'm not responsible for other peoples rash comments. It seems as if you just want to argue, and I don't. I actually want to get things done. Thank you for your interest in the post, but if you don't have anything more to say, I don't know why you're still posting in this thread. You have to separate the wheat from the chaff when you post on these forums, and I just hope that I can find some like minded people, who would like to help the cause.

erichsia

Some would call arguing debating, which is what a forum is for. Sorry if you only like to listen to positive reaffirmation, but since you asked so politely, I'm done Have fun storming the castle.
And I don't know why you're still posting either, instead of just going outside and recruiting.

the_joncarlo

Because this is a bike forum, with people that are passionate about bicycles. Thanks for the input.

kyselad

If you post here, you should be receptive to input other than "wohoo, I'm in." And here's more of that input.

This is a really bad idea. Don't go trying to do police work, because you're not the police. Crooks and cops alike are keenly aware of that, and even if you don't want "trouble," you're very likely to find it by putting together your own detective operation. If something bad goes down, consider the cops might not be so quick to take your side if it seems you're (a) trying to do their job for them, and (b) endangering yourself or others (potentially including the cops) over property theft.

Your intentions may be good, but you need to keep things in perspective. There's a reason cops get training, guns, and body armor, and there's a reason they explicitly discourage John Q Public from what they may well perceive as interference with their duties. If you don't think the cops are doing a good job, there are other ways to encourage them to pay attention.

Eire Mick

That's some bad news indeed. I'm in Hollywood and ride all over those neighborhoods and luckily haven't had any problems, but I will certainly take some more precautions. I suppose working the cranks instead of working the gas pedal comes with it's disadvantages. Keep your eyes peeled......after all, this is Los Angeles.

the_joncarlo

I have talked to my local PD, and know exactly what I can and cannot do within the confines of the law. They informed me that if I have video evidence of a crime being committed, they can make the arrest. Same way you get a ticket in the mail, for running a light when there is a camera. I intend on filming the act with a marked bike, and then tailing the criminal to his residence. Once I have the info, I have a Detective @ the Hollywood precinct who will act on the case.

Steve90068

mutha****n caught on camera! morry povich style

j3ffr3y

wow... good luck. Hope you bag the thieves

bionnaki

so, it sounds like the cops will have a blurry video of a suspect and then just file it away.

this will not be a video of a murderer or bank robber - they're not going to freeze the image and put it on the news.

I think you should worry more about locking your bike up not like a dumbass (as well as build up a beater bicycle). the cops are not going to do ****.

xg43x

im dumb as hell? i dont think so. i lived in Oakland and its generally recommended that if you give a thief enough time they will take your bike. locking your bike in front of a movie theater, especially at nite, is giving the thief the opportunity to take what is yours. why do i know this? because ive had people mess with what is mine and have seen it happen to others. i always made sure to keep my fixed gear locked up and i was able to watch it while i am running errands. if i plan on having it locked up for more than a few hours i almost always try to take it inside with me and lock it up. so anyone that wants to argue me being dumb as hell can **** off. develop some common sense and then argue with me.

Ride Among Us

since you quoted me in your examples, i will tell you to not worry about it. don't worry about when or for why i use violence. i don't need your advice.

erichsia

*sigh* - Well, I'm not giving you any. Notice that none of my posts were directed at you. I actually don't worry about you period. Have fun with your violence

I hate to break my word to you joncarlo, sorry. last time.

the_joncarlo

You are so right. I feel quite the fool.

Steve90068

back on topic peoples

mr_macgee

Can't we all just get along ???? (from the words of Rodney King)

Ride Among Us

huh? wtf