The Chainlink

Help Wanted - Populist Rage - Stolen Bikes

I've been emailing craigslist for the past week or so requesting that they link the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry to their bikes for sale page. I have received no response and unless I can engage someone electronically or telephonically, my Jedi mind tricks are useless.

I was hoping I could impose on members of the chainlink community to send "suggestions" to craigslist making the same request. I am attaching a form letter below. As always, it may help to rework the letter a bit, but if you want to send it verbatim, have at it. Thanks in advance. 


I am a member of the Chicago bicycling community and I am committed to reducing the incidence of bike theft in the City and improving the chances of recovering a bike if it is stolen. Given craigslist’s ongoing
commitment to avoid serving as a conduit for those dealing in stolen goods, I
am requesting that you post a link to the Chicago Stolen Bike Registry http://chicago.stolenbike.org/ at the
top of the chicago craigslist >
for sale / wanted > bicycles splash page. The Chicago
Stolen Bike Registry was created and is administered by volunteers and has no
commercial function. This link would provide a quick means for your Chicago
area users to cross-reference bikes offered for sale with bikes known to be
stolen and would also serve as a convenient place to register a stolen bike in
conjunction with the craigslist classifieds. Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated.


Send it on the form here:

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 1, 2010 at 8:32am
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/craigslist-recovery-story

http://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/cv8zq/my_bike_was_stolen_i...

An example of something that would have never happened if bike thieves were aware of the Stolen Bike Registry.

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/190144

The guy's listing on SBR even contains the craigslist link. Had the thief been aware he would have never been caught in the manner he was.
Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on August 1, 2010 at 9:52am
I am trying hard but I don't follow your logic here, JK.
In the first example you're saying that the guy would not have got his bike back had he listed it on the Registry? In that particular case the registry listing would not have helped much as he found the seller himself on Craigslist (although it might have given us enough details to learn a bit from the incident, such as where and how the bike was locked and how it was stolen), but I don't see how it would have prevented the recovery? Can you explain?

Jin Kim said:
http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/craigslist-recovery-story

http://www.reddit.com/r/chicago/comments/cv8zq/my_bike_was_stolen_i...

An example of something that would have never happened if bike thieves were aware of the Stolen Bike Registry.

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/190144

The guy's listing on SBR even contains the craigslist link. Had the thief been aware he would have never been caught in the manner he was.
Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 1, 2010 at 11:43pm
My argument is not against the registry. I think the registry is great. A special reward awaits you in bicyclist heaven, good sir.

My argument is against having a CSBR link on the craigslist bike for sale page.

If the thief could see that link and had visited the CSBR he would have no doubt seen the entry about the bike he had stolen. The very same entry that contained a link to his own ad. I would contend that any bike thief who is aware of CSBR will no longer attempt to sell "their" wares on craigslist.

If that were to happen, we would never ever hear another story like that one on reddit again.
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on August 2, 2010 at 9:39am
Jin Kim said:
I would contend that any bike thief who is aware of CSBR will no longer attempt to sell "their" wares on craigslist.
You keep saying this as if it constitutes an obviously argument-ending point. If you think this through for more than five seconds it should be clear that it isn't.

To spell it out for you: Say there are 100 stolen bikes sold on Craigslist for every one person who recovers their bike and provides a feel good story to an Internet forum. (The ratio is probably much higher.) If putting a link to the CSBR on Craigslist discourages the sale of stolen bikes on Craigslist, that should lead to fewer bike thefts, as the bike thieves will have one less place to sell stolen bikes. That's... a good thing.
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on August 2, 2010 at 10:10am
So you think the registry is good unless people know about it?

Jin Kim said:
My argument is not against the registry. I think the registry is great. A special reward awaits you in bicyclist heaven, good sir.

My argument is against having a CSBR link on the craigslist bike for sale page.

If the thief could see that link and had visited the CSBR he would have no doubt seen the entry about the bike he had stolen. The very same entry that contained a link to his own ad. I would contend that any bike thief who is aware of CSBR will no longer attempt to sell "their" wares on craigslist.

If that were to happen, we would never ever hear another story like that one on reddit again.
Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 4, 2010 at 10:08pm
Argument ending point? No, I'm simply stating my opinion. If you're opinion is that bike thieves would see the link to CSBR on CL and would STILL attempt to sell any bike that is listed there then, although I disagree, you're certainly entitled to it.

Here's another opinion that I'm certain you won't share, bike thieves will steal bikes as long as they have the opportunity to steal and as long as even one venue to make money exists.

And...I would hardly call this an argument because I have yet to get mad and YELL AT ANYONE!*@#*#*!

Now get back to Latveria.

Dr. Doom said:
Jin Kim said:
I would contend that any bike thief who is aware of CSBR will no longer attempt to sell "their" wares on craigslist. You keep saying this as if it constitutes an obviously argument-ending point. If you think this through for more than five seconds it should be clear that it isn't.
To spell it out for you: Say there are 100 stolen bikes sold on Craigslist for every one person who recovers their bike and provides a feel good story to an Internet forum. (The ratio is probably much higher.) If putting a link to the CSBR on Craigslist discourages the sale of stolen bikes on Craigslist, that should lead to fewer bike thefts, as the bike thieves will have one less place to sell stolen bikes. That's... a good thing.
Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 4, 2010 at 10:11pm
I think it would be better if bike thieves weren't aware of it.

I also think it would be great if everyone who rides regularly was aware and also kept up to date with the more recent stolen bikes. That's how I use the registry. I try my best to keep an eye out for bikes that are distinct enough to remember when I'm out and about.

Lee Diamond said:
So you think the registry is good unless people know about it?

Jin Kim said:
My argument is not against the registry. I think the registry is great. A special reward awaits you in bicyclist heaven, good sir.

My argument is against having a CSBR link on the craigslist bike for sale page.

If the thief could see that link and had visited the CSBR he would have no doubt seen the entry about the bike he had stolen. The very same entry that contained a link to his own ad. I would contend that any bike thief who is aware of CSBR will no longer attempt to sell "their" wares on craigslist.

If that were to happen, we would never ever hear another story like that one on reddit again.

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