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Bike Theft In the U. S.
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Bret Cahill
Apr 22, 2017, 1:43:32 PM4/22/17
to
JNugent
Apr 22, 2017, 7:34:24 PM4/22/17
to
On 22/04/2017 18:43, Bret Cahill wrote:
> http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-bicycle-theft-20170421-story.html
QUOTE:
In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
ENDQUOTE
Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
home ground?
There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer, renewed
annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had been
erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid VINs), it would
be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to exist. Thieves would be
reduced to cutting them up for spares, which is W O R K.
If cars didn't have VINs and registration plates, I dare say that even
more of those would be stolen and never reappear.
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> http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-bicycle-theft-20170421-story.html
QUOTE:
In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
ENDQUOTE
Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
home ground?
There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer, renewed
annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had been
erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid VINs), it would
be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to exist. Thieves would be
reduced to cutting them up for spares, which is W O R K.
If cars didn't have VINs and registration plates, I dare say that even
more of those would be stolen and never reappear.
---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
http://www.avg.com
Bret Cahill
Apr 23, 2017, 12:19:31 AM4/23/17
to
> > http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-bicycle-theft-20170421-story.html
>
> QUOTE:
> In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
> has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
> treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
> Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
> vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
> dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
> ENDQUOTE
>
> Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
> easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
> as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
> home ground?
>
> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
The practical way to go is to GPS the bike so you can find it on the phone.
>
> QUOTE:
> In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
> has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
> treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
> Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
> vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
> dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
> ENDQUOTE
>
> Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
> easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
> as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
> home ground?
>
> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
Bret Cahill
Paul Cummins
Apr 23, 2017, 5:56:26 AM4/23/17
to
In article <em27ju...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
> We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
Why - it already exists, it's called the "Frame Number"
> And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
> visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer,
> renewed annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had
> been erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid
> VINs), it would be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to
> exist.
That's an excellent idea - lets try it out on bigger vehicles first, like
cars. Especially this "renew the Registration plate every year" idea.
After all, if it reduces car thefts, then it'll certainly reduce bicycle
thefts, as they are soo much harder to steal. Oh wait...
--
Paul Cummins - Always a NetHead
Wasting Bandwidth since 1981
Please Help us dispose of unwanted virtual currency:
Bitcoin: 1LzAJBqzoaEudhsZ14W7YrdYSmLZ5m1seZ
(JNugent) wrote:
> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
There is - it's called the "Frame Number"
> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
> We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
> And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
> visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer,
> renewed annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had
> been erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid
> VINs), it would be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to
> exist.
cars. Especially this "renew the Registration plate every year" idea.
After all, if it reduces car thefts, then it'll certainly reduce bicycle
thefts, as they are soo much harder to steal. Oh wait...
--
Paul Cummins - Always a NetHead
Wasting Bandwidth since 1981
Please Help us dispose of unwanted virtual currency:
Bitcoin: 1LzAJBqzoaEudhsZ14W7YrdYSmLZ5m1seZ
JNugent
Apr 23, 2017, 12:43:12 PM4/23/17
to
On 23/04/2017 10:56, Paul Cummins wrote:
> In article <em27ju...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
> (JNugent) wrote:
>
>> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
>
> There is - it's called the "Frame Number"
>
>> We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
>
> Why - it already exists, it's called the "Frame Number"
>
>> And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
>> visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer,
>> renewed annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had
>> been erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid
>> VINs), it would be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to
>> exist.
>
> That's an excellent idea - lets try it out on bigger vehicles first, like
> cars. Especially this "renew the Registration plate every year" idea.
>
> After all, if it reduces car thefts, then it'll certainly reduce bicycle
> thefts, as they are soo much harder to steal. Oh wait...
Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in the
> In article <em27ju...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
> (JNugent) wrote:
>
>> There could be a manufacturer's ID built into the frame somewhere.
>
> There is - it's called the "Frame Number"
>
>> We could call it the Vehicle Identification Number.
>
> Why - it already exists, it's called the "Frame Number"
>
>> And if the bike had a clear and unique public registration plate,
>> visible to any passer-by, any road-user or any police officer,
>> renewed annually (except where the VIN marked them as stolen or had
>> been erased/defaced or was otherwise not on the list of valid
>> VINs), it would be much harder for a market for stolen bikes to
>> exist.
>
> That's an excellent idea - lets try it out on bigger vehicles first, like
> cars. Especially this "renew the Registration plate every year" idea.
>
> After all, if it reduces car thefts, then it'll certainly reduce bicycle
> thefts, as they are soo much harder to steal. Oh wait...
the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it isn't at
all common.
You are, of course, confusing theft (permanent deprivation, which is
what is reported to happen with bikes), with "taking away without the
owner's consent", which is what tends to happen with cars.
This is no trivial difference. The registration and VIN system means
that most TWOCd cars are recovered and returned to their owner.
Do you not want that for bikes, then?
Paul Cummins
Apr 23, 2017, 4:24:07 PM4/23/17
to
In article <em43sv...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
(JNugent) wrote:
> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
> the the UK and countries with similar systems.
In 2014, over 240,000 vehicles (cars. motorcycles) were stolen.
> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
> the the UK and countries with similar systems.
TMS320
Apr 23, 2017, 4:26:00 PM4/23/17
to
On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
> isn't at all common.
You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with it.
> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
> isn't at all common.
It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the last 20
years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to be obtained first.
JNugent
Apr 23, 2017, 8:33:53 PM4/23/17
to
On 23/04/2017 21:24, Paul Cummins wrote:
> In article <em43sv...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
> (JNugent) wrote:
>
>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>> the the UK and countries with similar systems.
>
> In 2014, over 240,000 vehicles (cars. motorcycles) were stolen.
Stolen?
> In article <em43sv...@mid.individual.net>, jenni...@fastmail.fm
> (JNugent) wrote:
>
>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>> the the UK and countries with similar systems.
>
> In 2014, over 240,000 vehicles (cars. motorcycles) were stolen.
Or taken away without the owners' consent?
JNugent
Apr 23, 2017, 8:38:45 PM4/23/17
to
What is usually (inaccurately) termed a "stolen" car has not been stolen
at all, because "steal" has a specific meaning in law which is not
satisfied by joyrising, etc..
That's why there is an offence of "taking away without the owner's
consent" - it's because the essential elements of the crime of theft do
not exist in such cases and therefore cannot be proven.
I had two cars TWOCd in the 1970s and got them both back when notified
by the police (guess how they traced me?).
If TWOCing has been reduced by better security devices, that's great,
but reducing TWOC offences is not the same thing as reducing the number
of thefts.
MrCheerful
Apr 24, 2017, 3:27:30 AM4/24/17
to
69,547 in 2016, I wonder why the 2014 figure of 231,323 was chosen to quote?
Neither of the above figures are quantified as to type of
misappropriation. There are 36 million cars on the road, so last year
0.2 percent were stolen.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/11558743/Number-of-cars-stolen-in-the-UK-falls-to-48-year-low.html
Meanwhile keeping it cycling:
reported theft of bicycles is around 370,000 per year (note reported,
the true figure would be much higher) from 2014-15 article:
http://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/412/bicycle-crime-statistics
No-one knows how many bicycles are 'on the road' But it seems likely
there are less than 36 million, so the rate of theft is much higher than
for cars.
TMS320
Apr 24, 2017, 5:04:14 AM4/24/17
to
On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>
>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>
>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>>> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
>>> isn't at all common.
>
>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with it.
>
>
>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the last 20
>> years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to be obtained first.
>
> Nothing whatever to do with it.
Everything to do with it.
> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>
>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>
>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>>> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
>>> isn't at all common.
>
>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with it.
>
>
>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the last 20
>> years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to be obtained first.
>
> Nothing whatever to do with it.
> What is usually (inaccurately) termed a "stolen" car has not been stolen
> at all, because "steal" has a specific meaning in law which is not
> satisfied by joyrising, etc..
that's entirely up to you.
JNugent
Apr 24, 2017, 8:13:10 AM4/24/17
to
On 24/04/2017 10:04, TMS320 wrote:
> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>
>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>>>> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
>>>> isn't at all common.
>
>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with it.
>
>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the last 20
>>> years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to be obtained
>>> first.
>
>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>
> Everything to do with it.
Au contraire, as already explained, though the truth is too inconvenient
> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>
>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually rare in
>>>> the the UK and countries with similar systems. It happens, but it
>>>> isn't at all common.
>
>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with it.
>
>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the last 20
>>> years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to be obtained
>>> first.
>
>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>
> Everything to do with it.
for you to accept.
>> What is usually (inaccurately) termed a "stolen" car has not been stolen
>> at all, because "steal" has a specific meaning in law which is not
>> satisfied by joyrising, etc..
> If you want to worry about how people in funny wigs define a word,
> that's entirely up to you.
returned to their owners because of something other than registration
(remembering that bikes only have to be shifted a relatively few miles
to have little chance of ever seeing their owners again), that's up to you.
TMS320
Apr 24, 2017, 4:02:23 PM4/24/17
to
On 24/04/17 13:13, JNugent wrote:
> On 24/04/2017 10:04, TMS320 wrote:
>> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>
>>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually
>>>>> rare in the the UK and countries with similar systems. It
>>>>> happens, but it isn't at all common.
>>
>>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with
>>>> it.
>>
>>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the
>>>> last 20 years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to
>>>> be obtained first.
>>
>>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>>
>> Everything to do with it.
>
> Au contraire, as already explained, though the truth is too
> inconvenient for you to accept.
You should read the paragraph you wrote that I quote above my reply. If
> On 24/04/2017 10:04, TMS320 wrote:
>> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>
>>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually
>>>>> rare in the the UK and countries with similar systems. It
>>>>> happens, but it isn't at all common.
>>
>>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with
>>>> it.
>>
>>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the
>>>> last 20 years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to
>>>> be obtained first.
>>
>>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>>
>> Everything to do with it.
>
> Au contraire, as already explained, though the truth is too
> inconvenient for you to accept.
you're referring to something else that you wrote... I have not replied
to that.
JNugent
Apr 24, 2017, 7:21:38 PM4/24/17
to
you've snipped).
Cars are rarely stolen as compare with being temporarily taken for
joyriding or similar.
To steal is to dishonestly appropriate the property of another with the
intention to permanently deprive that owner of the item stolen.
Because that is a rarity with cars (exceptions might include exotica
allegedy "stolen to order" for shipping abroad), a separate offence (of
taking without the owner's consent) exists. That's because proving
intent to permanently deprive is effectively impossible - "stolen" cars
are almost always recovered and delivered back to their owners. That's
because of VINs and registration.
Not so for bicycles, which are much more susceptible to (successful) theft.
Why are you even arguing against that? The article which gave rise to it
was a complaint about the fact that stolen bicycles are so rarely
recovered (IOW, their owners have been permanently deprived of them).
Bret Cahill
Apr 25, 2017, 2:45:26 AM4/25/17
to
A couple hours ago I came out of Dollar Store to find a miscreant rummaging through my seat bag.
Trying to muster some outrage I demanded "what are you doing?"
He claimed he had a flat tire and needed a patch kit.
This was such a charming answer no one on the planet could get upset.
I went through the bag to see if anything had been removed. The camera battery was still there and I mumbled, "well, you didn't steal the battery."
I don't really inventory that bag very often or well. The patch kit was later found back home.
I said, "your tire looks pretty good. Press down on it." Not that it matters much with BMX but his tire was almost fully inflated.
"See, " I said, "your tire is OK." "Where is your light?"
He had none.
"OK," I said magnanimously, "I'll give you one" and rummaged further into the bag to produce a spare strap on Si rubber light.
The button batteries were dead and I gave up on the idea of giving even a $1 item to such a dysfunctional.
I got ready to go and he said he was going to follow me.
The wind was blowing pretty strong out of the West, bad air warnings, etc. I thought, if he follows I'll just go East a few blocks to lose him . . .
Bret Cahill
Trying to muster some outrage I demanded "what are you doing?"
He claimed he had a flat tire and needed a patch kit.
This was such a charming answer no one on the planet could get upset.
I went through the bag to see if anything had been removed. The camera battery was still there and I mumbled, "well, you didn't steal the battery."
I don't really inventory that bag very often or well. The patch kit was later found back home.
I said, "your tire looks pretty good. Press down on it." Not that it matters much with BMX but his tire was almost fully inflated.
"See, " I said, "your tire is OK." "Where is your light?"
He had none.
"OK," I said magnanimously, "I'll give you one" and rummaged further into the bag to produce a spare strap on Si rubber light.
The button batteries were dead and I gave up on the idea of giving even a $1 item to such a dysfunctional.
I got ready to go and he said he was going to follow me.
The wind was blowing pretty strong out of the West, bad air warnings, etc. I thought, if he follows I'll just go East a few blocks to lose him . . .
Bret Cahill
JNugent
Apr 25, 2017, 5:31:49 AM4/25/17
to
When are you going to finish it? I'm on tenterhooks.
TMS320
Apr 25, 2017, 7:01:57 AM4/25/17
to
On 25/04/17 00:21, JNugent wrote:
> On 24/04/2017 21:02, TMS320 wrote:
>> On 24/04/17 13:13, JNugent wrote:
>>> On 24/04/2017 10:04, TMS320 wrote:
>>>> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>>>>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>>>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually
>>>>>>> rare in the the UK and countries with similar systems. It
>>>>>>> happens, but it isn't at all common.
>>>>
>>>>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with
>>>>>> it.
>>>>
>>>>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the
>>>>>> last 20 years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to
>>>>>> be obtained first.
>>>>
>>>>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>>>>
>>>> Everything to do with it.
>>>
>>> Au contraire, as already explained, though the truth is too
>>> inconvenient for you to accept.
>>
>> You should read the paragraph you wrote that I quote above my reply. If
>> you're referring to something else that you wrote... I have not replied
>> to that.
>
> You are in denial about something which is central here (but which
> you've snipped).
Nothing snipped that is relevant to reply. Things don't get stolen when
> On 24/04/2017 21:02, TMS320 wrote:
>> On 24/04/17 13:13, JNugent wrote:
>>> On 24/04/2017 10:04, TMS320 wrote:
>>>> On 24/04/17 01:38, JNugent wrote:
>>>>> On 23/04/2017 21:25, TMS320 wrote:
>>>>>> On 23/04/17 17:43, JNugent wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>>> Though you obviously didn't know it, car-theft is actually
>>>>>>> rare in the the UK and countries with similar systems. It
>>>>>>> happens, but it isn't at all common.
>>>>
>>>>>> You're rather naive if you think plates have much to do with
>>>>>> it.
>>>>
>>>>>> It is not common because cars have had electronic keys for the
>>>>>> last 20 years and can't be hot wired; the key (or code) has to
>>>>>> be obtained first.
>>>>
>>>>> Nothing whatever to do with it.
>>>>
>>>> Everything to do with it.
>>>
>>> Au contraire, as already explained, though the truth is too
>>> inconvenient for you to accept.
>>
>> You should read the paragraph you wrote that I quote above my reply. If
>> you're referring to something else that you wrote... I have not replied
>> to that.
>
> You are in denial about something which is central here (but which
> you've snipped).
it is physically difficult not because of a piece stuck on plastic.
> Cars are rarely stolen as compare with being temporarily taken for
> joyriding or similar.
>
> To steal is to dishonestly appropriate the property of another with the
> intention to permanently deprive that owner of the item stolen.
can accept that VED is not "road tax".
JNugent
Apr 25, 2017, 10:30:19 AM4/25/17
to
definition of theft.
You desperately want to believe that registration doesn't have anything
to do with the small number of motor vehicles which are actually stolen
(it isn't zero, but it's very low compared to the much larger number
which are TWOCd).
And the same *could* apply to bicycles, but you are more concerned that
cyclists should get away with their multiple daily traffic offences than
you are that they should be able to recover stolen bicycles.
TMS320
Apr 25, 2017, 11:51:47 AM4/25/17
to
something that is a human invention.
JNugent
Apr 25, 2017, 12:02:27 PM4/25/17
to
streets, stop-lines and red traffic lights, etc.
Though somehow, one still suspects that you would not be quite so
sanguine about breaches of statute law if a lorry came through a red
light and knocked you off your trike.
TMS320
Apr 25, 2017, 7:58:06 PM4/25/17
to
you can quote me to escape being sued for libel.
> Though somehow, one still suspects that you would not be quite so
> sanguine about breaches of statute law if a lorry came through a red
> light and knocked you off your trike.
law's major failing is that so many obstacles have to be cleared that
the driver probably won't get punished.
Bret Cahill
Apr 25, 2017, 8:33:02 PM4/25/17
to
> > A couple hours ago I came out of Dollar Store to find a miscreant rummaging through my seat bag.
> >
> > Trying to muster some outrage I demanded "what are you doing?"
> >
> > He claimed he had a flat tire and needed a patch kit.
> >
> > This was such a charming answer no one on the planet could get upset.
> >
> > I went through the bag to see if anything had been removed. The camera battery was still there and I mumbled, "well, you didn't steal the battery."
> >
> > I don't really inventory that bag very often or well. The patch kit was later found back home.
> >
> > I said, "your tire looks pretty good. Press down on it." Not that it matters much with BMX but his tire was almost fully inflated.
> >
> > "See, " I said, "your tire is OK." "Where is your light?"
> >
> > He had none.
> >
> > "OK," I said magnanimously, "I'll give you one" and rummaged further into the bag to produce a spare strap on Si rubber light.
> >
> > The button batteries were dead and I gave up on the idea of giving even a $1 item to such a dysfunctional.
> >
> > I got ready to go and he said he was going to follow me.
> >
> > The wind was blowing pretty strong out of the West, bad air warnings, etc. I thought, if he follows I'll just go East a few blocks to lose him . . .
> >
> >
> > Bret Cahill
>
> Nice... Hemingwayesque, even...
He never said much either.
> >
> > Trying to muster some outrage I demanded "what are you doing?"
> >
> > He claimed he had a flat tire and needed a patch kit.
> >
> > This was such a charming answer no one on the planet could get upset.
> >
> > I went through the bag to see if anything had been removed. The camera battery was still there and I mumbled, "well, you didn't steal the battery."
> >
> > I don't really inventory that bag very often or well. The patch kit was later found back home.
> >
> > I said, "your tire looks pretty good. Press down on it." Not that it matters much with BMX but his tire was almost fully inflated.
> >
> > "See, " I said, "your tire is OK." "Where is your light?"
> >
> > He had none.
> >
> > "OK," I said magnanimously, "I'll give you one" and rummaged further into the bag to produce a spare strap on Si rubber light.
> >
> > The button batteries were dead and I gave up on the idea of giving even a $1 item to such a dysfunctional.
> >
> > I got ready to go and he said he was going to follow me.
> >
> > The wind was blowing pretty strong out of the West, bad air warnings, etc. I thought, if he follows I'll just go East a few blocks to lose him . . .
> >
> >
> > Bret Cahill
>
> Nice... Hemingwayesque, even...
Bret Cahill
RJH
Apr 26, 2017, 11:05:21 PM4/26/17
to
On 23/04/2017 00:34, JNugent wrote:
> On 22/04/2017 18:43, Bret Cahill wrote:
>
>> http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-bicycle-theft-20170421-story.html
>>
>
> QUOTE:
> In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
> has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
> treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
> Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
> vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
> dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
> ENDQUOTE
>
> Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
> easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
> as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
> home ground?
>
A friend had his bike stolen - looked like an angle grinder cut through
> On 22/04/2017 18:43, Bret Cahill wrote:
>
>> http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-bicycle-theft-20170421-story.html
>>
>
> QUOTE:
> In Los Angeles and virtually every city in North America, bicycle theft
> has almost become a crime without consequence, so widespread that it is
> treated less as a problem and more like one of the costs of urban life.
> Thieves can quickly cut locks on a target that serves as its own getaway
> vehicle, sell their ill-gotten goods to fencers for pennies on the
> dollar, and rest assured they will almost never be busted.
> ENDQUOTE
>
> Wouldn't it be easier to combat that sort of crime if bicycles were
> easier to track once stolen - and pouldn't just be re-used with impunity
> as long as they were just a reasonable distance from the true owner's
> home ground?
>
the D-lock, busy road.
Later that night it turned up on ebay (it had a probably unique
combination of pedals, markings/scratches, saddle, tyres and groupset).
He told the police, got a crime number etc. The police (Sheffield UK) in
effect did nothing. The bike sold and the police did not intervene.
Friend lost the bike.
I'm not sure how typical this anecdote is, but perhaps the police simply
don't have the resources, or it doesn't chime with however their
performance is measured.
--
Cheers, Rob
MrCheerful
Apr 27, 2017, 2:04:25 AM4/27/17
to
the Police or some large friends (unlikely, I know) to collect it
JNugent
Apr 27, 2017, 5:00:50 AM4/27/17
to
On 27/04/2017 04:05, RJH wrote:
appropriate, to prosecute. That, by and large, is what they want to do,
though (as an aside), it is possible to envisage cases where the
complainant cuts an unsympathetic figure with the offcers handling the case.
Your anecdote may indicate how resources are husbanded, but it might
also indicate lack of confidence in the complainant's identification of
"his" bike on eBay. The police might, whilst being willing to devote
some resources to the case, be unable to commit resources to every
example of local newspaper adverts, craigslist entries, eBay listings, etc.
But your point is well-made. Bicycles are difficult to trace and they
couild be easier if there were a single national registration scheme
whch was difficult to evade. And it would have other advantages.
JNugent
Apr 27, 2017, 5:01:41 AM4/27/17
to
mention out of pocket.
MrCheerful
Apr 27, 2017, 6:07:19 AM4/27/17
to
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