Where Do They Go?

Thread started by
kryxtanicole at 04.3.09 - 12:28 am
Seriously, what happens to all these stolen bikes?
What are the laws regarding grand theft?
Besides U-locks in the first place, what can be done to improve the chances of recovery?
Are these thieves ninjas, or what's the deal??
reply
this has been covered alredy =/
as i said in the last threads
gps that could be put into the tubing of bikes
but thats like 100 dollars
aksendz04.3.09 - 4:46 am
reply
GREAT. Thanks for redundantly answering 1 of the 4 questions. Go to sleep.
kryxtanicole04.3.09 - 4:47 am
reply
Seriously, what happens to all these stolen bikes?
The idiot thieves try to resell them online and get caught. The pros a) part them out and resell the parts elsewhere, or b) wait until they've got a full truckload and then drive them south of the border, because it's not like the police are going to put much effort into stopping bike smuggling, and it's not like most of us are going to check craigslist mexico for our missing bikes.
What are the laws regarding grand theft?
Look it up - http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html. The law is kind of irrelevant if law enforcement isn't going to put the time and effort into recovering them. This is why we need to improve our relationship with the police, because having them think "Wait, if we recover these bikes, they're just going to use them to drink and ride and obstruct traffic and run red lights" isn't optimal.
Besides U-locks in the first place, what can be done to improve the chances of recovery?
Bike licenses. That way your bike has some identifying info on file with law enforcement. If that doesn't work for you, then make sure you have the serial numbers and location (bottom bracket/ dropout) written down. Try to avoid leaving your bike in the Echo Park / Sunset area. Get a bike alarm - http://www.virtualvillage.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=4380934&utm_source=baseusa&utm_medium=shopping&CAWELAID=190649236.
Seriously though, locking your bike with a U-lock for short stops, and bringing your bike with you for longer stops will cut down the chances of theft dramatically. Your bike doesn't have to be theft proof, you just have to make it harder to steal than the next bike.
Are these thieves ninjas, or what's the deal??
No, just losers with bolt cutters who know that obliviousness, fear and the "stop snitching" ethos will let them get away with taking stuff. No ninja skills required.
JB04.3.09 - 8:08 am
reply
i will not drink two beers next ride and put in $5 towards the GPS bike :)
66604.3.09 - 9:09 am
reply
mebbe they aren't being stolen, mebbe they're running away.
steph04.3.09 - 10:05 am
reply
they go to bike heaven and are reincarnated into other looking, other kinds of bikes. sadness.
bondink04.3.09 - 10:44 am
reply
Thanks JB, for responding to the questions. Bike alarms, huh...that's interesting.
Steph wins a cookie for best answer.
Aksendz needs to keep sleeping.
kryxtanicole04.3.09 - 11:05 am
reply
I've only heard of one guy who got his bike stolen when he had a u-lock on it.
Almost every bike that was stolen in the last month was either left unlocked or had a cable lock on it.
Bike alarms seem silly... just use two u-locks and you'll be fine.
stillline04.3.09 - 12:00 pm
reply