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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Permalink Reply by David on July 15, 2011 at 5:19am

My impression from the story and the phrase "either way they've picked him up before" was that at least one of the cops related their personal experience in picking the guy up before.  You may consider this picking nits, but as a true statement of personal experience that would be neither slanderous nor hearsay.

 

For the rest, I don't see anybody jumping to the conclusion that this guy's a thief.  Maybe he's an innocent victim.  But police investigation possibly followed by indictment and trial is our standard way of deciding these things, and in this case the process was cut short.

 

PS. And to Damon, I've very happy you got your bike back as well.


James BlackHeron said:

Did the police say he has a record of actually being indicted or found guilty as a bike thief -or that he has merely been "picked up" before but never charged or found guilty?  If the latter then the police have no business spreading around slanderous hearsay IMHO.

 

Permalink Reply by JT on July 18, 2011 at 5:08pm
Yesterday:

1980s Pro Mitaya road racing bike
http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/191448

And June 18:
Trek KDR1000 kids road racing bike
http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/191236
Permalink Reply by magomawe on July 19, 2011 at 4:11am

As I was perusing the registry I noticed a lot of cable locks cut at the North Avenue beach.  This seems to be a prime spot for thieves lately.  A couple reports also noted that several bikes were locked with a cable lock but only the nicer bike was stolen.  This makes me wonder if its the work of one person rather than a group.  This trend of bike theft also fits in with the cyclist harassment that has been publicized in that area recently.  

 

Also a recent report confirms the theory that all you have to do is " be more secure than the other guy."  A theft from from 112 Grand states:

"I locked the bike up in front of my dance studio at 6:00p, taught class for an hour, left around 7:35p and my bike was gone. Cable lock, someone must have clipped it. Tons of other bikes locked up at various places on the street, all with U locks."

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on July 19, 2011 at 4:21am

I noticed that there is a bike locked up on the 2700 block of N. Sawyer (pretty much right in front of Rey Colon's office) that has both a U-lock and a cable.  The interesting thing about this is that the cable has been cut and is dangling off the U-lock and doing nothing.

 

It's like a thief was in a hurry and didn't see the U-lock!  It's been there for a couple of days now sitting like that. It's a strange sight with that U-lock still standing there secure on the frame and the bike rack but the cable dangling uselessly in two hallves.

 

Use a U-lock.  If you must, also lock up your wheels with a cable if you can't carry multiple U-locks.  Wheels can be somewhat expensive to replace -but not as expensive as a whole  bike!  And in at least this one case it seems that the thief gave up and didn't even bother stealing the wheels once that U-lock stopped him.  No lock is 100% secure and an angle-grinder can always defeat them.  But a cable is just so much dental floss to a thief. 

 

Cool story bro...

Permalink Reply by cckeevan on July 21, 2011 at 10:58am

Hi all,

 

I've posted on the Stolen Bike Registry, both nationally and locally, but I figure it can't hurt to give this a shot too. My beloved 2010 Bianchi Milano Citta was stolen last Thursday from outside of my apartment in Evanston. It was removed from the street sign it was U-locked to by actual removal of the entire sign - yikes! - and I'm fairly devastated. I've been doing the best I can, posting missing bike signs, contacting all of the local bike shops, issuing a police report, even keeping a regular Craigslist notification on my phone. Sadly, none of it seems to be enough. Any suggestions? I'm desperate to get this back. My bike is truly my most beloved possession.

 

My entry in the stolen bike registry is here. Any help would be so greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Coco

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 21, 2011 at 11:05am

Good luck, that really hurts.  You've done the right things, check out some flea markets as well.  I found mine at the swap o rama at 41st and ashland. It was pure luck, but stolen bikes do show up there.

Permalink Reply by Ruby Red on July 21, 2011 at 11:12am
I saw two fixies yesterday on milwaukee locked up together. They had lugged frames, rounded handlebars (not sure how to describe them) and the frames were totally filed down. Like it look like someone just filed or sanded away the paint job. Is that a style choice? A cover-up for a stolen bike choice? I was just curious?
Permalink Reply by Ruby Red on July 21, 2011 at 12:42pm

Man. Yeah. The streetsigns really sketch me out. It's shocking how few bike racks there are around town considering how many cyclists there are. Parking outside the wormhole is nigh impossible at some times. But, I know there's another forum for that topic... 

 

Didn't somebody come up with a GPS tracker for bikes? Might be worth it if you're in love with your Bianchi. 

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 22, 2011 at 3:24am
He's deleted.  Ning's kick the spammer off the chainlink system just took a little while this morning :))
Permalink Reply by cckeevan on July 24, 2011 at 9:43am

Hi there!

 

I didn't receive a response from you after the first. Did you send another? I'm usually really good about responding to emails.

 

I also do not plan on actually paying - I'm hoping a reward will entice someone to come forward in the hopes of making a little dough, while I will then (hopefully) utilize police force of some sort.

 

I'm working on a little investigative journalism piece on bike theft in the northwest suburbs, hoping it'll lead me to my Bianchi. I'm feeling ultra-Veronica Mars-y. 

 

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, suggestions and support. Please continue to keep your eyes peeled for my Milano Citta - I desperately want it back. Also - is it likely that the bike remained in Evanston/nw suburbs? Should I not check places like the Recyclery or Cycle-o-rama?


h333 said:

I would suggest taking a look at where and how a bike was stolen before making suggestions about where to look for it. Coco's bike is not going to end up anywhere near Swap-O-Rama.

Coco, I don't know if you received my response to your inquiry per e-mail about finding your bike last week?

Also, I see you listed a "negotiable" reward for the return of the bike. I would urge you not to offer a reward for a stolen bike-- you will likely be paying a thief directly and supporting thievery.

No decent person would expect a reward for the return of stolen property.

Permalink Reply by Michael Warne on July 24, 2011 at 12:42pm
My bike got stolen last sunday from my apartment. Its a Black 54cm 2008 specialized langster. scratches on mall sides of the bike as I've had it for a few years and it was well used. Rear wheel is a single speed spinergy four spoke. Bullhorn handle bars. White San Marco saddle. I have photos of the bike on my page and I have the serial number. If found or seen please please PLEASE contact me! medward1882@yahoo.com If you help me get it back I will REWARD WITH CASH OR GOOD CHICAGO BEER!!
Permalink Reply by cckeevan on July 25, 2011 at 8:34pm

I am so unbelievably blissful right now. I received a text message tonight from an acquaintance letting me know that he'd spotted my bike - on the same street sign right where I'd left it a week and a half before. I'm not sure how or why it suddenly returned, but I do know it wasn't there even an hour prior. It's the street sign immediately out front of my building, and I pass it at least eight times a dance as I enter and exit my building. It seems the thief returned it out of the goodness of his or her heart. Regardless, I cannot thank this community enough. It has been absolutely heartwarming to know that there are so many other cyclists out there willing to lend support or advice. I am so grateful and so happy. 

 

Thank you!

h333 said:

That's frustrating-- I put a fair amount of effort into that response (checking out the location on street view/etc.)

Please check e-mail-- resending-- although now that a week has passed since it was composed on the 16th, your chances are much slimmer.

-h

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