Today I caught a homeless man stealing my back tire and stashing it at his camp under the highway at Ashland and Bloomingdale. I confronted him asking him how long he'd been there and what had happened to my tire hoping he would just give it up. He gave me some story about how that sucks and how two bikes were just stolen from the metra stop nearby then he left pretty quickly on his bike that was obviously too nice for a homeless person to afford. I went through the same hole in the fence he came out of and found his camp with two tents and a stash of at least 6 bikes and various parts under a tarp along with my tire, which I took back. He really did a number on my brakes getting the tire off, it always amazes me how oblivious people are to crime- its a busy street and somebody must have seen him raping my bike.
If you happen to have had a bike stolen in the area perhaps this is a place to look- bring a friend or 5. I didn't take pictures or memorize any of the bikes, I wasn't sure if anyone else was there in the tents or if he would come back. been trying to call 311 but it doesn't seem to be working since the storm started. Based on my other problems with bike theft and dealing with police I doubt the cops would do anything to recover these bikes anyway.
The homeless guy was white, fit, late 30s-40s, red/brown hair with a beard, very red skin and a cauliflower nose and pretty sharp mentally, I know he begs in the street on ashland sometimes.
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