The Chainlink

Stolen Bike Etiquette? If there's an opportunity, how to artfully reclaim robbed cycle...

Stolen bike! (Yes, it’s one of those posts...) 52 cm Motobecane, silver with yellow writing. (Joe’s bike shop sticker on frame.) Ritchie stem with Shimano derailers and drop handlebars with red tape--with extra set of hand brakes from Smart Bike Parts. It has a Pro Carbon fork and Alexis rims. It was stolen July 5th in the morning/afternoon from Ukranian village.

Maybe I’m just a Florida kid that’s too naïve for the big city, but I’d never imagined my bike would be stolen off my back porch in full daylight while I was either home or nearby running errands (getting coffee, walking the dog...). Granted, my bike was not locked up or inside on the day of the theft, which ultimately means I facilitated the robbery. Strange, though, that I live on the second floor, that my back door was wide-open all day, and my bike wasn’t visible from the alleyway... also there is a metal gate that is closed but not locked. Seems fishy, like someone must have known it was there before taking it.

Either way, since I’ve never had a bike stolen before, I’m not sure how to react. I’m scouring the internet and hoping someone will post it for sale... if someone does, do I meet them with guns-a-blazing and rob it back? What if I see someone riding it out on the street? Do I attack them? Chase them down all willy nilly and demand it back? Do nothing? Ask cordially where they purchased the bicycle and explain that it's yours... though they probably know it was stolen? Slit my own tires if I see it locked somewhere and wait for the rider to re-appear and then _____... I guess I just need input on how to reclaim my bike if there’s an opportunity.

Also, if anyone sees it around or has info, please let me know. There’ll be a hefty reward and all that hoopla.

I guess this will put me on the fast-track to building a bike from scratch... something I’ve been putting off for months now. Ahh.

Thanks for your help!

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 5, 2009 at 3:46pm
Cory,

Sorry to hear that. Post all details and pictures if you have some here: http://chicago.stolenbike.org/

Also, here's a thread from a fellow Chainlinker who got her bike back after seeing it posted on Craigslist. Maybe it will give you some ideas on tactics if you see it posted for sale anywhere online.

I'm sure more people will also chime in with advice, etc too. Not messing with someone's ride is an unwritten rule.

Best of luck!
Permalink Reply by S on July 5, 2009 at 7:26pm

Cory,


It doesn't help now, but if you register your new bike with the city, it'll probably help you claim the bike if it gets stolen or lost in the future. Having the registration and police theft report will probably go a long way with convincing the cops that the bike is ours if you do find it on the net.

Permalink Reply by Cory on July 6, 2009 at 10:37pm
Thanks for the website tip, had no idea it existed. Honestly I'd like to tattoo "don't mess with someone's ride" on the culprit's forehead... seems only mildly violent and yet still vengeful. Cheers!

Tank-Ridin' Ryan said:
Cory,

Sorry to hear that. Post all details and pictures if you have some here: http://chicago.stolenbike.org/

Also, here's a thread from a fellow Chainlinker who got her bike back after seeing it posted on Craigslist. Maybe it will give you some ideas on tactics if you see it posted for sale anywhere online.

I'm sure more people will also chime in with advice, etc too. Not messing with someone's ride is an unwritten rule.

Best of luck!
Permalink Reply by Cory on July 6, 2009 at 10:43pm
Thanks for the advice, I totally posted the report. I talked to some cops about the reg number mystery... turns out there's no mystery at all: No reg. number, no valid report. Ah well, thanks again.

h3 said:
Thanks to TRR for posting the Stolen Bike Registry link. Although I'm not sure how Cory could have 'scoured the internet' without coming across it (try it). Dunno why, but frequently people who will start a thread on a forum or listserv won't be willing to take 5 minutes and list it.

Anyways, Cory if you do see it (extremely unlikely but has happened) your best bet is to put your own U-lock on it and then call police. You'd better be armed with your police report number or they're probably not going to help. In order to make a report you may or may not need to know your bike's serial number-- there are scattered reports of people being told they can't make a report without it.

Please post back once you're made the report, and listed the bike on the registry so others can help.
Permalink Reply by jim gott on July 7, 2009 at 7:21am
I had a bike stolen from my back door I went to the area that I thought the bike might be in and looked for it. I was able to locate the bike, I then took the bike bike back from the kid that had stolen it no violence Having a bike stolen is no fun but it does feel good to recover it
Permalink Reply by Cory on July 8, 2009 at 5:36pm
I just talked to some cops I met because my Sister had her wallet stolen the night before from a bar... they were really friendly but they said that (essentially) if I didn't have my bike registered in Chicago that there was no real way of persecuting the thief because they couldn't file a complete report... maybe they were just being lazy... but they seemed sincere. I dunno what the story is but it's kind of freakish that my sisters stuff was jacked the night before my bike.

I mean, I guess the argument is that there is no way to prove the bike is actually yours. Point taken about the lawn furniture... Yes, my four white plastic lawn chairs were stolen. I purchased them at WalMart 6 mos ago. Yes! They are like every other white plastic lawn chair you've ever seen and there's no distinctive quality about them and I want them back!

That is definitely bizarre. Anyways, thanks for being so concerned. Cheers.

h3 said:
Cory said:
Thanks for the advice, I totally posted the report. I talked to some cops about the reg number mystery... turns out there's no mystery at all: No reg. number, no valid report. Ah well, thanks again.

h3 said:
Thanks to TRR for posting the Stolen Bike Registry link. Although I'm not sure how Cory could have 'scoured the internet' without coming across it (try it). Dunno why, but frequently people who will start a thread on a forum or listserv won't be willing to take 5 minutes and list it.

Anyways, Cory if you do see it (extremely unlikely but has happened) your best bet is to put your own U-lock on it and then call police. You'd better be armed with your police report number or they're probably not going to help. In order to make a report you may or may not need to know your bike's serial number-- there are scattered reports of people being told they can't make a report without it.

Please post back once you're made the report, and listed the bike on the registry so others can help.

What's the "reg. number"? Did you call to report the bike, or just talk to some cops on the street?
What exactly did they tell you? Not sure how you can file a police report for a patio set or a stereo without a serial number but they won't let you file one for a bike?
Permalink Reply by Cory on July 8, 2009 at 5:41pm
That's insanely lucky and awesome... I was in Lugs today to rebuild a bike, and even though I need a bike for commuting and, in general, 'fun times,' I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge that the bike is probably gone forever. Anyways, your story brings me hope, good sir, and that is valiant in these dark times indeed. Cheers.

jim gott said:
I had a bike stolen from my back door I went to the area that I thought the bike might be in and looked for it. I was able to locate the bike, I then took the bike bike back from the kid that had stolen it no violence Having a bike stolen is no fun but it does feel good to recover it

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