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 Dr. Doom on July 27, 2010 at 5:17pm
If bike thieves don't feel comfortable selling bikes on Craigslist, fewer bikes will, in theory, be stolen. Not sure why this would be a problem.
Permalink Reply by Vilda on July 27, 2010 at 6:42pm
And to follow Doom, We are going to the swap meets so now where can they sell? Eliminating venues for the goods to be sold is a HUGE deal!
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on July 28, 2010 at 1:52am
The less places they have to sell the better. The harder it is to sell a bike the less money a thief gets for the effort they have to put in which makes bike a less attractive target.

Do you know why bikes are such an attractive target and why the fencing of bikes is done so openly?

1. It is not viewed as much of a crime by the police; thieves know they are not going to be pursued enthusiastically by the police.

2. Victims often are willing to pay for their own bike; many times when a stolen bike is spotted by the owner they are willing to PAY the thief to get it back and then do not press charges.

3. Many of the thefts go unreported because the victims either know the police will not do anything or they, themselves, do not view it as much of a crime.

4. Even if it is reported most people do not know their bikes S/N so there is no real proof.

As for the idea that bikes sold 'in the neighborhood' are related to the stuff being fenced on CL and at the swap meets this is false. The people you see selling bike son the street are usually crack heads or low level dirtbags who commit crimes of opportunity and are looking for a quick sale to get their next fix. The people taking the high end bikes and running around in the white van with the angle grinder are not going to sell a bike on the street for 20 bucks; they are on CL and at the swap meets and everything we can do to reduce their market is for the better.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on July 28, 2010 at 6:43am
I keep meaning to make all of you aware of this. . . Last weekend I was driving on North Kingsbury Street, along that industrial corridor, when I saw a number of trucks loaded with used bicycles parked at what appeared to be a metal recycling plant. Here is a map of the location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod...

I thought about stopping and photographing some license plates, but I had my 3 year old in the car and. . . well, I didn't.

I'm guessing one could find some stolen bikes in the back of those trucks.
Permalink Reply by igz on July 28, 2010 at 9:35am
VERY INTERESTING!!!

wish you did get a shot of the plates, but i understand why you didnt.

Brendan Kevenides said:
I keep meaning to make all of you aware of this. . . Last weekend I was driving on North Kingsbury Street, along that industrial corridor, when I saw a number of trucks loaded with used bicycles parked at what appeared to be a metal recycling plant. Here is a map of the location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod...

I thought about stopping and photographing some license plates, but I had my 3 year old in the car and. . . well, I didn't.

I'm guessing one could find some stolen bikes in the back of those trucks.
Permalink Reply by igz on July 28, 2010 at 9:35am
email sent!!
Permalink Reply by Lee Diamond on July 28, 2010 at 6:13pm
Perhaps, but lets remember that just about all of the local bike organizations that collect donated bikes give the completely useless ones to scrappers. I have personally witnessed the same at West Town Bikes so it is not always going to be that every scrapper with a bunch of bikes is scampering off with lost booty.

There is an edge between citizen action and vigilantism and it starts with misunderstanding. This movement may have great intentions, but there have been distrubing moments leaving me uneasy with the possibilities that verve for this cause will not end well for someone undeserving of anything.

Brendan Kevenides said:
I keep meaning to make all of you aware of this. . . Last weekend I was driving on North Kingsbury Street, along that industrial corridor, when I saw a number of trucks loaded with used bicycles parked at what appeared to be a metal recycling plant. Here is a map of the location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod...

I thought about stopping and photographing some license plates, but I had my 3 year old in the car and. . . well, I didn't.

I'm guessing one could find some stolen bikes in the back of those trucks.
Permalink Reply by T.C. O'Rourke on July 28, 2010 at 6:40pm
The same argument could be made against listing your stolen bike on the registry. If you do, the thief might see it and sell your machine in a more covert manner.

Seriously: removing Craigslist as a venue for bike thieves might have the greatest impact on bike thief in this town.

I am writing now.

Jin Kim said:
What? How do you not understand what I wrote?

First of all I clearly read your post. If I hadn't it would be a damn miracle that my comment managed to contain the words "craigslist" stolen bike registry" and hell even, "Chicago" instead of my more favored words like "ice cream" "neckbeard" and "crotch thrust."

I understand that you want craigslist to put a link on top of the bike for sale page.

THAT IS WHAT IS PRECISELY WHAT I AM AGAINST!

My whole point is that I don't want potential bike thieves to see that link and decide they shouldn't sell their ill gotten gains on craigslist anymore, thus severely limiting the chances of finding some douchebag selling my stolen bike on craigslist.

Do you honestly think if there's a link to the registry that said potential used bike shopper is going to go to such lengths to make sure the bike they're going to buy is on the up-and-up? Do you actually think the average craigslist shopper is that honest and pro-active about their honesty?

All it's going to do is scare away anyone dumb enough to sell a stolen bike in such a public, traceable manner.



Kevin Conway said:
Clearly you didn't read the letter, or the post. It's a link on craigslist. It is in addition to, not instead of, stolen bike posts on craigslist. Nice populist rage, though.

Jin Kim said:
Totally against this idea.
If this works (and no stolen bikes ever get put on craigslist) then bike thieves are just going to go underground and sell bikes in a less visible venue. If my bike is ever stolen then I WANT them to list it on craigslist. I have a better chance of intercepting it that way. If it ends up in sold within a neighborhood or at a swap meet then it's "bye-bye" bike.
Don't get me wrong I think the Stolen Bike Registry is awesome. I think every potential cycling enthusiast in Chicago should know about it but at the same time, I hope no bike thief in Chicago is ever aware of it. Or prevents them from being dumb and trying to sell it on craigslist.
Permalink Reply by Laura on July 29, 2010 at 1:50am
I do not see bike thieves looking on stolen bike registry daily, maybe some will, but I doubt it. Also if a stolen bike is not registered in a public place there is little luck in it being found by others. I think its smarter to be listed on the registry then someone posting directly on craigslist that their bike was stolen. That post would be more likely read by a thief
Permalink Reply by cutifly on July 29, 2010 at 2:13am
Post the link everyday along with a mock ad and a bike picture that will say (to the rhythm of course) .... 'here's a bike that I got today I know it's not stolen there aint no way, but if you want to check it would make my day It called chicago.stolenbike dot registrayyyyyyyy. If that don't work I'll just be a jerk,,, and file a lawsuit, think that would work ? If I am not flagged then I am here to stay,,,, cause we like the honest folk cause they want to pay. If you don't mind just look around,,, every day bikes get stolen in town. Hey now we know that you like a deal but buying stolen goods has no appeal"

End of Rap
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on July 29, 2010 at 3:20am
That's good to know.

Lee Diamond said:
Perhaps, but lets remember that just about all of the local bike organizations that collect donated bikes give the completely useless ones to scrappers. I have personally witnessed the same at West Town Bikes so it is not always going to be that every scrapper with a bunch of bikes is scampering off with lost booty.

There is an edge between citizen action and vigilantism and it starts with misunderstanding. This movement may have great intentions, but there have been distrubing moments leaving me uneasy with the possibilities that verve for this cause will not end well for someone undeserving of anything.

Brendan Kevenides said:
I keep meaning to make all of you aware of this. . . Last weekend I was driving on North Kingsbury Street, along that industrial corridor, when I saw a number of trucks loaded with used bicycles parked at what appeared to be a metal recycling plant. Here is a map of the location: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocod...

I thought about stopping and photographing some license plates, but I had my 3 year old in the car and. . . well, I didn't.

I'm guessing one could find some stolen bikes in the back of those trucks.
Permalink Reply by Jin Kim on August 1, 2010 at 2:32am
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.

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