SwapORama, 2012

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on March 10, 2012 at 12:24pm

Hi Samir,

It's nice that you're thinking about others while looking for your own bike.

It's been an ongoing frustration that there are so many clearly stolen bikes kicking around out there, yet apparently so many victims don't bother to report their bikes stolen.

In regard to Swap=O=Rama-- much better to have others with you when you go, for various reasons, but be aware you may be shooting yourself in the foot by posting plans on a public forum-- even if the thieves may not be internet savvy, they have "friends" who are. Better to solicit for help and then coordinate specific trips out of public view.

Also, something that may not seem obvious-- spreading the word about Swap O Rama may seem like a good thing, but consider that not everyone who reads the stolen bike registry or this forum has only good in their heart-- you may be giving free advertising to this filthy operation, and helping the thieves and the "dirty" vendors with increased sales.

As to your bike-- considering it's almost a month since the theft, I think it unlikely to turn up at SoR at this point-- if it ended up there at all, it was probably fenced there the same week, and is off in some happy person's garage on the southwest side. Happy to be proven wrong though.

Was their any surveillance video of your theft, by chance?

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Permalink Reply by samir on March 10, 2012 at 5:43pm

There was no video of the theft, but I am certain power tools were used.  Thanks for the advice, it's kind of a relief to hear that I can stop looking at SOR...

h' said:

Hi Samir,

It's nice that you're thinking about others while looking for your own bike.

It's been an ongoing frustration that there are so many clearly stolen bikes kicking around out there, yet apparently so many victims don't bother to report their bikes stolen.

In regard to Swap=O=Rama-- much better to have others with you when you go, for various reasons, but be aware you may be shooting yourself in the foot by posting plans on a public forum-- even if the thieves may not be internet savvy, they have "friends" who are. Better to solicit for help and then coordinate specific trips out of public view.

Also, something that may not seem obvious-- spreading the word about Swap O Rama may seem like a good thing, but consider that not everyone who reads the stolen bike registry or this forum has only good in their heart-- you may be giving free advertising to this filthy operation, and helping the thieves and the "dirty" vendors with increased sales.

As to your bike-- considering it's almost a month since the theft, I think it unlikely to turn up at SoR at this point-- if it ended up there at all, it was probably fenced there the same week, and is off in some happy person's garage on the southwest side. Happy to be proven wrong though.

Was their any surveillance video of your theft, by chance?

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