The Chainlink

stolen Madison: recovered from Logan/California last night

Recovered: Schwinn Madison fixed gear. Bike was abandoned by thieves when I chased them down as they attempted to steal my own bike's front wheel. Message me with a photo and or detailed description including frame color and size, color of rims, handlebar style, and brakes and I will return it. I may ask for a finder's fee since I was assaulted with a U-lock as things escalated.

 

Cross-posted to chifg/CL; nothing matches on the stolen bike registry. called local bike shops, also no hits.

 

keeping it after 48 hours.

 

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+1

 

Finder's fee indeed.  I think that pretty much makes you an "accessory" to larceny. 

h' said:

This seems like a likely match; same general latitude, stolen only 4 days ago; are you sure you searched the right registry?:

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/191696

 

The victim just wrote with the police report number and serial number; I'm going to hold off on updating the listing until Sue C has confirmed that this is not Michael's bike.

Really? wouldn't you pay a reward to get your very posh bike back? the kids who tried to take my front wheel admitted to the cops that the bike wasn't theirs. I didn't steal it; they did. I'm the one who ran them down and got a u-lock chucked at me (and have a lovely lump on my arm to show for it). I'm the one who spent 30 minutes in the back of a squad car tracking the thieves down. I'm the one spending time calling bike shops and crossposting to multiple forums attempting to find the rightful owner of this very nice bike. pretty sure I deserve at least a six-pack.

I saw that.

Wrong color rims, tape, wrong bars. no stickers.

sorry.

OK, thanks.


If you find the owner, I'll buy the 6-pack.

 

Sue C. said:

I saw that.

Wrong color rims, tape, wrong bars. no stickers.

sorry.

It would be cool if they bought you a six pack, but demanding a fee is tantamount to selling stolen property -- not a smart idea, especially when you're on the record here and through the police.  Keeping it after 48 is theft.
the cops told me to keep it. what else do you suggest I do with it?
and seriously, I wasn't intending to demand money for it.

If the rightful owner can't be identified, the "right" thing to do IMO is to get it into the hands of someone who needs it and can make use of it.  If Sue has a use for it, I don't see a problem.

Thanks for going to such effort to identify the owner.

thanks. if I can't find the owner my plan is to upgrade my bike and then give any leftover bits to West Town.

 

I've called all the Logan area bike shops, crossposted here/CL/chifg, posted on Active Trans's fb. any further suggestions?

The reality is few bike theft victims bother to report the bikes stolen in any way.


One avenue that hasn't been tapped is to have someone check the police database to see if a Madison has been reported stolen. It's not only impossible to get help from CPD to do so, but there's evidence that their database is such a hopeless mess that it would take someone with a little dedication to helping to find it if it was in there.

 

I have a contact at UIC police who is also a bike advocate-- friend me and I'll pass along his e-mail; he might be willing to check for you.

 

Sue C. said:

thanks. if I can't find the owner my plan is to upgrade my bike and then give any leftover bits to West Town.

 

I've called all the Logan area bike shops, crossposted here/CL/chifg, posted on Active Trans's fb. any further suggestions?

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