Possible Stolen Bikes Spotted @ Ashland Flea Market w photos

These bikes were spotted at the Ashland Swap O Rama Ashland @ 42nd st.
Fellow chainlinkers and Chicago cyclists rode to the Swap O Rama this morning to reclaim and find stolen bicycles. We are working in numbers to combat thievery. Here is today's list:

-Specialized crossroads pink rims 
-Gold trek w brown front deep v pink and white saddle bullhorns 
-Black trek 1000 with rack 
-Green specialized stumpjumper, new tires 
-Black Specialized transition carbon with animal rights stickers 
-Blue trek 7.3 
-Felt team carbon argyl on top tube 
-Trek 1000 alpha series reed white and blue 
-Black republic 
-Chrome pista with straight stash handlebars 
-Specializes sirrus black 
-Motobecane record red 
-Giant cypress silver 
-Bianchi volpe green 
-Jamis beatnik 
Note: This list is a user provided list that is unverified.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on June 5, 2010 at 6:28am
We need to refine the protocol, and we have some good ideas for how to do that. I'm not sure there was much else we could do beyond taking the risk and stealing the bike back.

Julie Hochstadter said:
Why do you think the seller got spooked?

Chuck a Muck said:
We got in contact with the owner of the Felt, unfortunately the seller got spooked and left with the bikes.
Also there is 2 African American males selling bikes out of a gray Dodge Caravan with it's plates removed and they had bolt cutters in the back of the van...
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on June 5, 2010 at 7:07am
Yeah, more bad luck than anything—had him dead to rights, eyes on him and the owner on the way, and he just kind of vanished. We have some good ideas for how to avoid that next time, though. (They do not involve the useless off duty cops at the Swap-o-Rama, unfortunately.)

Anyone who's thought about coming on these rides but is worried they're a waste of time/goose chase should tag on, we could use the extra eyes and with a bit more luck (or semi-illegal aggression) we'd have hooked someone back up with his ride today. Worth the effort and if nothing else keeping the pressure on guys who are just trying to make a quick, hassle-free buck can't hurt.
Permalink Reply by Rogelio Zamudio Jr. on June 5, 2010 at 7:22am
My Fuji Track Pro got stolen not that long ago. Do they sell bikes daily at the Swap-O-Rama? It didn't happen too long ago but I am losing hope in regards to getting the bike back.
Permalink Reply by Joel on June 5, 2010 at 7:31am
Sorry, I had to leave right after I posted the links. Would it help to notify the alderman for the ward? Send them a link to this thread and any others in which stolen bikes have been found at the entirely unpoliced and illegally run swap. Maybe a bit of pressure would get them to do something to help.
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on June 5, 2010 at 7:41am
Given that there are off duty cops working there I don't think anyone is unaware there's an unpoliced and illegally run swap meet going on. A lot of cash runs through there and surely enough of it is finding its way into the right pockets.

I don't think there's any illusion that by going every week or two we're going to reunite dozens of cyclists with their lost rides, but we'll get a few if we keep it up, and a thief who has his goods confiscated is going to be driven that much further underground, which is good.
Permalink Reply by Laura on June 5, 2010 at 8:46am
I do not think that this is the transition that I saw. The owner had obviously placed multiple stickers on the bicycle and I would think that they would mention that on the stolen bike registry. The particular man who was selling this bike was just walking around the flea market trying to sell it and was not set up at a stand.

Also we contacted the sirrus owner while at swap-o-rama (same one you posted here) and are working on getting more information to her.

Joel said:
Black Specialized Transition: http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/184356
Permalink Reply by Vondo on June 5, 2010 at 9:18am
I'm just spit-balling here. I haven't been on one of these rides (because I work Saturdays, although I will be on vacation the next two weeks, so maybe...) and I don't know how you guys went about it, but maybe a more overt method might work. If not to get people over there to reclaim their bikes, but maybe to put the word out that swap-o-rama is not a good option for selling stolen bikes anymore. Sort of like a Guardian Angels organization for being on the lookout for suspicious rides. Maybe if enough people give these dirtbags enough hassle enough times, they might decide it's not worth the trouble? Although I guess they would probably just move on to another selling spot...
Permalink Reply by Wesley Dolezal on June 5, 2010 at 9:51am
How many people showed up for the ride today? I wanted to go, but couldn't make it. I agree with H3N3. Lets build the case and take it to the alderman. If the alderman doesn't cooperate (which is 99% likely), we could try to take it above that. Know anyone in the media?

These rides need to happen a little more frequently. Maybe find people that live near the other swaps (like Alsip) and get a group working on that one as well.

...or as bad as it sounds, we could try to get the assholes in the RIAA and MPAA involved (bootlegs!!!). It wouldn't really help our cause, but it would bring some heat.

In the mean time I think that I am going to go back and buy the "new" XBOX 360 games that I saw on the first ride for $35. I just need to see if the security seal is still on the case.
Permalink Reply by Chuck a Muck on June 5, 2010 at 10:02am
There was 8 of us total at the Swap meet... I live near the Swap-o-Rama and have no problem hitting this place every week. The only problem I have is my phone is not internet ready to check the registry while there...
Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on June 5, 2010 at 10:43am
Howard,

Feel free to call or e-mail me regarding this stuff.

H3N3 said:
I posted info regarding the alderman previously. We've got a lot of different threads going on in the main forum, on the event listing . . .there has to be a better way to use this medium.
I still can't make head or tail here-- is there someone I can contact by phone about this to get some information about how things were done today? Besides the one bike were any other potential owners contacted?
And most importantly did anyone get pics of any of the -people- selling confirmed stolen bikes?
Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on June 5, 2010 at 11:21am
I've been reading so many posts about this and it's been making my blood boil. I may have concocted something that has no way of preventing theft but may make things a lot easier for people whose bikes were stolen and later located. The concept is quite simple and something I have the means to pursue if there is enough interest but would like some input from others before offering it. For obvious reasons I'd rather not divulge the details here. If this piques your interest then send me a private message on here or email to michael (dot) perz (at) gmail (dot) com which I check much more frequently.
Permalink Reply by Joe TV on June 5, 2010 at 11:33am
My thanks to the people you took these photos and posted them here. This inspired me to overcome my crippling apathy and add my recently stolen Pista to the stolen bike registry.

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