Stolen Bike Registry - do this when your bike gets stolen

"With all the stolen bike posts lately (and no one thinking "I wonder if there's something under Useful Links for this."), I think it's well past time to make a sticky about the Stolen Bike Registry"

- Tank-Ridin' Ryan

Well said Ryan.

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/

Done and done.

And sticky too.

Cheers - Lee Diamond

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on April 25, 2012 at 11:35am

Sometimes they just bug out other times there is a very, very awkward conversation.

The times I have recovered bike the person who has bought it got the kind of price on it that caused them to suspect it was stolen.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on April 25, 2012 at 11:54am

Here is a good bike shop recovery story and good way to think on your feet if the opportunity is ripe (like, I can't change a flat tire). Bike was stolen 3 houses from mine.

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 25, 2012 at 12:26pm

You can also browse recovery stories here:

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/search/node/recovered

Although there seems to be an odd trend of late of people not letting us know when their bikes are recovered. Still don't know which listing Comerade's recovery pertains to.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on April 25, 2012 at 1:41pm

that's not too bad, does anyone have any opinions or ideas on sticker design?

Is what I came up with ok, or is there something else people would like to see?

h' said:

The above sticker would probably run something like $350 for 2000.

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Permalink Reply by chuck kurdin on May 2, 2012 at 8:22pm

Great initiative!

Peter Muller said:

Hey everyone,

I just started a Chicago stolen bikes Twitter feed. We need to get bicyclists to follow the feed so that in the event a bike is stolen, the word can get out ASAP to everyone and eyes can be immediately peeled.

follow "chistolenbikes" or just tweet @chistolenbikes

Finally, a useful purpose for Twitter!

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on May 15, 2012 at 12:28am

So, another recovery story today thanks to keen eyes and community-mindedness at Comrade Cycles (Chicago/Damen):

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/190609

And I finally got around to asking for details to pin down the recovery from April 24:

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/184536

Note the date of theft on both of these.

Next time you pass the shop, give it a hug for me.

h' said:

Ah, another piece of the puzzle. The victim's wife sent an e-mail earlier wanting to make a donation without much other info besides the 2-year figure. Awaiting further details. We generally wouldn't name a bike shop that assisted in a recovery unless they specifically requested to be named.

Thanks for your role in that one, CC!

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 15, 2012 at 2:01pm

I want to make the point here that those recovery stories at Comrade could not have happened if people had not put their bikes on the registry.

The lest week or so I have seen several bikes that I would bet cash money were stolen and none of them were on the registry.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 15, 2012 at 2:22pm

I will also contribute time and money.

Cameron Puetz said:

Do people still want to pursue this? I'll volunteer time and money to make it happen as well.

Liz said:

that's not too bad, does anyone have any opinions or ideas on sticker design?

Is what I came up with ok, or is there something else people would like to see?

h' said:

The above sticker would probably run something like $350 for 2000.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on May 15, 2012 at 3:35pm

I sent an email to those who have expressed interest in going in on the sticker. If anyone else is interested let me know.

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Brad V on May 17, 2012 at 2:46pm

Saw some questionable activity 5/17 around 2pm, but not an actual theft... so if anyone lost or knows of a stolen, older red mountain bike with bar-ends near Wells and Adams... It looked like it had a thick uncoated steel chain (stainless?) coiled around the top (?) tube but I couldnt tell if it had been cut. The bike was loaded into the back of a new-ish white van, untinted windows, that had just pulled up. License plate 70 771 V (I think). They had a bunch of empty boxes in the van, I didn't see any other bikes.

stocky hispanic looking guy with a black shoulder bag was wheeling the bike, eastern european looking guy driving the van.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 4, 2012 at 10:18am

I am once again going to reiterate how important it is to register you bike on the stolen bike registry!

This morning I saw an Independent Fabrications bike that I am 99.9% sure is stolen. All of the indicators were there; the 'owner' did not have cycling shoes and it had SPD pedals, there was alock around the frame he did not have a key for, he did not have the proper tool to remove the rear wheel and when questioned about where he got the bike it took him a minute to say his uncle gave it to him.

Sadly the bike had no hits by brand, description or S/N on the registry so they left with it.