Speaking of stolen bikes.....

michael_w

Yeah... got up this morning to find my bike that is usually locked up to a bench in my backyard gone. To say the least I am frickin pissed off. The people came into my backyard at night / early morning, cut the lock and took both the bike and lock with them. I live in a co-op with townhouses and in the last week there have been about four bikes stolen so far. One of my neighbours said she heard a big truck come in at about 3:30. She just moved in and the odd noises have been waking her up so that's why she noticed it.

I reported it to the police this morning but I know unless it is turned in or something there is no way I'll be getting it back. It's just too easy to get away with crap like this.

The bike was a Kona Hahana (spelling?) and was in pretty bad shape after being not cared for for a while. The thing that probably makes the theft so aggravating is that in the past week I have put money and time into this bike restoring it back to its original condition. I changed the forks on it to better ones (RST 280s), swapped out brake pads, changed the back rim, cleaned everything and made sure it was perfect and other things like that. I was all ready to go for late night bike rides this summer after workouts but it looks like that won't be happening.

Sorry for the long rant but I'm so pissed off from these terrible last couple weeks. Thanks...

btw I will be getting up at 3 o'clock this morning to walk around the co-op and see if they show up again. (with wepon of choice in hand)

exalted512

i know how you feel
kill em all
-Cody

Mike682

man.....that sucks!

How did they know the bike was in your yard???

Maybe it was someone in the co-op?

Sorry to hear it.....I hope you find the trash responsible

MacLeod

Thats why my baby stays in the house with me! I dont care how dirty or muddy it is. It comes inside!

michael_w

I don't know how they found out... I doubt it was someone that lives in the co-op but since it was in my backyard they must have done one of two things. Either gone from house to house looking for something good or it was someone that I know. Possibly someone from school that has seen me riding it around. I would assume since I was not the only one targeted it was the snooping around.

I have let my friends know of this and I will be doing my best to find out about a couple shady characters I know and any recent business that might have come across my path. One of which I know for sure does things like steal cars and break into houses.

The whole thing kind of freaks me out because if they can do this so easily without being noticed it gets me worried about breaking into my house. There are thousands of dollars worth of stuff in my room as well as my dads stereo and the downstairs computer that can be seen from the backyard.

michael_w

MacLeod I wish I could do that but my house isn't big enough to put bikes in. Maybe if it were my house it would be possible but unless it's goin in my room my fasha won't let it be.

MacLeod

LOL!! Dont let that stop ya!

I live in an apartment and we dont have the room either!

My wife **** about it all the time, but she knows she probably doesnt want me to have to chose between her or the bike!

nadams

make sure you check all your local pawn shops... keep an eye out for anyone riding a bike.... scope their ride out and see if it looks like yours....

AsSiMiLaTeD

Yep, keep an eye on your local pawn shops and Ebay. If they're stealing several bikes and stuff, it's probably more for cash than the actual goods. The two easiest places to unload are at a pawn shop and online.

As for your house, just take some basic precautions. 90% of crime is opportunity. Take away the opportunity and you lessen the chances, though any crime can happen in any place at any time.

michael_w

There arn't too many pawn shops around here but there is one on the way home from school that I will keep an eye on but usually they don't buy bikes. There is one main bike shop here that buys used bikes or takes them as trade ins that I have a couple friends some friends that work there who will also watch out for it for me.

My guess is that there is probably a 95% chance I'll never see it again.... that said if I do see someone riding it unless they went nuts and stripped everything off it I should be able to easily tell if it is mine. The bike is easy to identify being bright green with green dice, fishbone platform pedals, surface grips, little velcro pieces to hold a front fender on, two small tears on the back part of the seat, an inner tube that wraps around the frame where the chain kept hitting from jumping and stuff and a mount piece for a light. Many many things that make it unique.

Thanks for the safety tips... since we don't have a home alarm system I should see if I can get ahold of some of those stickers that says you have an alarm and stick them on all the windows Need to start making certain all the windows are locked at night and the curtains are closed. Ya think your neighbourhood is safe especially living in a friendly co-op but then everyone gets an eye opener.

Looks like the JoLidia will be put off a little longer than expected

nadams

What good would alarm stickers do... when the bike was outside?

I'm not trying to be insensitive or anything... I had a bike stolen when I was about 12. Really sucked because it was my main mode of transportation at the time... and yes, I had left it OUTSIDE, but not in view from the street.

michael_w

I was talking about protecting the house and audio stuff lol.

beardog03

servalience camera`s are cheap..

so are tazers...

The two work wonders when used correctly..!

Just a thought....

michael_w

servalience camera`s are cheap..

Thats actually a good idea... hook up a camera and stick it in the corner of my backyard but build a bird house around it or something so that it isn't obvious. Wish I had done things like this before this happened. But then again if I don't know the person I doubt it'll do any good if all they do is jack my bike again.... I mean the police are not very helpful when it comes to stuff like this.

beardog03

put another bike back there, and plug it into the wall..

ZAP!

kinda like a big bug zapper..!!

michael_w

Thats hillarious but I'd end up killing too many of the dumb kids in my co-op doing that.

The hunt for a new bike has begun.... I'm looking at a Norco Evolve at the moment but I may want a seat on the new bike so I might not go that route.

michael_w

ok screw the evolve... check out this brisa b26d elite. The frame only weighs 3.75 lbs msrp is in at around 1600 cdn. Beautiful but maybe a bit too much

michael_w

I've been doing some shopping and have no idea what to get just yet. I also talked to my dad this morning and he told me there is no way he will let me bring a bike into the house even if I stick it in my room. I'm not going to drop a grand on a bike to leave it outside to get rusty and stolen again...

Ron-P

Many years ago my wife (then girlfriend) and I found a ****'n (did I just type that word) mountain bike at a hole in the wall sports shop at Mammoth Mtn. It was stolen from her parent’s garage the following week.

Sorry to hear Michael, I know how ya feel.

madmax

Originally posted by beardog03
put another bike back there, and plug it into the wall..

ZAP!

kinda like a big bug zapper..!!

My sentiments exactly.

Actually, just get an electric fence power supply and clamp it to the frame. Don't forget a hidden camera so you can enjoy the next heist.

madmax

michael_w

Yeah that would be pretty cool...

I have made some progress with the bringing it inside. I've managed to beat it into him long enough that he is considering having it hang from the ceiling or high on the wall in the kitchen. Option #2 is to build a little mini-shed for the bike and use those fancy round locks that are really hard to cut with bolt cutters. I like the first way but if it comes down to it I might have to settle with #2.

btw now I'm thinking of a Norco Tactik but I doubt I'll stop looking there ~ Link ~