Bait Bikes: Clever Theft-Deterrent or Entrapment?

Hey Ya'll,

Searched the forum and didn't find this one posted (sorry if it was and I missed it):

http://www.good.is/post/bait-bikes-clever-theft-deterrent-or-entrap...

An interesting idea.  I take the legal notion of entrapment pretty seriously as a social justice issue, and don't support this strategy as a widespread tactic.  But it does seem to hold some promise for the biking community in cases where there are clear patterns of bike theft.  When my bike was stolen a couple of months ago, the method, neighborhood, and time of day all fit similar thefts over the past several months.  Plus, the GPS system described in the article has led to unearthing warehouses of stolen bikes. 

But authorities baiting the desperate, and often those most impacted by socioeconomic inequality, is a very slippery slope indeed.  What do you think?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Digital Dario on July 9, 2010 at 9:46am
Now this is an alarm.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on July 10, 2010 at 4:32am
Dr. Doom said:
I put a box of books on my curb yesterday because I'm perfectly aware that other people are perfectly aware they're free to take the ones they want.


If you're willing to share your books there are better ways to do it:

1. There's a book-sharing locker in the recycling area of North Park Village. Drop off your books there, leave them outside if the place is locked.

2. The Chicago Freecycle Group, for free sharing things:
http://groups.freecycle.org/chicagofreecycle/posts/all

Why take the easy, and lazy, way out? Dumping it, littering the curbs, encouraging others to put garbage out on the streets? Should others do this with used Styrofoam cubs they want others to be free to use?

There are cleaner and better ways to do this - and not encourage others to take anything they see laying around because "...it's probably discarded and somebody just wants to get rid of a bicycle."
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on July 10, 2010 at 5:45am
I live in Hyde Park. Everyone leaves things out for their neighbors to take. Why should I take my stuff all the way up to the north side or give it to faceless people who live nowhere near me via an anonymous online group? Because this satisfies a stranger's sensibilities?

Point to note: Hyde Park manages to be one of the nicer neighborhoods in, well, America despite being filled with lazy people who dump litter all over the curbs...
Permalink Reply by Kohaku on July 10, 2010 at 6:45pm
It's sad how I add to my long list of disappointing people who do not want to contribute to society but rather live their lives fulfilling the requirements of the lowest common denominator. Congratulations to the blind.
Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on July 11, 2010 at 10:04am
This thread seems to have gone off topic.
Permalink Reply by Marty A. on July 11, 2010 at 2:51pm
I started to read this entire thread but became disgusted. I am going to "bait" an unlocked bike in my garage and lay in wait . . . . baseball bat in hand. I hate thievery. You steal in the middle east and you lose a hand. I am fine with that. . . . "F" the socioeconomic issue debate. Come on! So I should not be upset when a thief breaks into my place and steals something. Where is personal responsibility. BTW, I will NOT be checking the rest of this debate. I laugh when I read about the socioeconomic issue debate. I grew up without money, and I never stole. F You.
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on July 11, 2010 at 3:21pm
I think it's funny that some of the people you judge as part of the problem, feel are not contributing to the community and living life only to the lowest common denominator are some of the people most involved in trying to fix the bike theft problem.

Here's an idea; learn to judge people as a whole and not just by a single, narrow, standard which is arbitrated solely by your own preconceived notions.

Kohaku said:
It's sad how I add to my long list of disappointing people who do not want to contribute to society but rather live their lives fulfilling the requirements of the lowest common denominator. Congratulations to the blind.

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