My bicycle was stolen on Monday while I was at work. I walked around the corner of the physics building to find my lonely front wheel still locked to the rack with my severed cable lying next to it on the ground.
I was grief-stricken. How long had the poor wheel been sitting there, humiliated and alone? And why had some jerk stolen the rest of the bike? Who doesn’t have better things to do than to deprive me of my uninsured, primary mode of transport? And what was I supposed to do now, standing next to a single wheel in my dorky bicycle outfit?
I reported the incident to campus security, who put me in touch with the police. Everyone was extremely accommodating—perhaps because I was still weeping profusely about my loss. The beat sergeant in charge of my area was unavailable until Friday. To pass the time while I waited for a proper crime inquiry, I turned to the internet.
It is very difficult to find information about stolen bikes. There are no major websites tracking reports of stolen bicycles, and very few news articles either. When I spoke with the police today, they said that many people don’t even bother to report a stolen bike, which makes it more difficult to catch offenders and to reunite bicycles with their owners.
I’ve taken a different tack. This week, I called CrimeStoppers on two suspicious online ads, and have been vigilantly tracking online bicycle sales for any sign of my other half. I may never see that bike again, but I certainly don’t want to make it easy for the thief to off-load it. One of the officers today said that they’re actually following up on a lead I submitted, and two young men were arrested the other day for another bike theft. This stuff is real, folks. Crime prevention and reporting works.
So keep your eyes peeled for a one-wheeled women’s mountain bike, either on the internet or off. Until I hear anything else, I’ll be drawing diabolical theft-prevention mechanisms in my notebook. The best idea so far: The bloody cable. Snip this bike lock, and imitation blood oozes from the wound. It’s fabulous as a deterrent, unnerves would-be thieves, and leaves a trail of gooey footprints for police to follow. Reserve yours now to avoid disappointment.
Image credit: Paul Watson
I feel sorry for you. You’re right, if nobody complains and just acts as if it is a normal thing, things will never improve. Even if your bike has not been recovered yet, the police did take 2 thieves off the streets which is better than nothing!
My bike was nicked from inside a locked stairwell. They cut through a solid steel bike lock to get it, because I go through the frame and the front wheel to lock my bikes. They’d tried before by just removing the front wheel but it didn’t work.
When I reported it I was told it’s hard to track them because they usually break it into parts and sell them separately because it’s worth more that way. So it’s really hard to track them down, and hard to find your bike again because if they do that, it’s not your original bike.
It really sucks. Glad you’ve got a new one though.
Hey Charles. That’s exactly what the police told me as well–the more sophisticated thieves take apart stolen bicycles and then rebuild them using parts from other bikes.
Doesn’t it seem bizarre that there are no websites tracking this sort of thing? I would think someone would provide a one-stop shop for all information regarding stolen bicycles, and anyone who had one stolen would post their info about it there. It would be a great resource for police, and for anyone else who’s wondering whether the used bike they’re about to buy is just feeding petty theft.
One other comment: I mentioned to the police that I felt a little sorry for the kids who’d been arrested–you hope that these young guys will mature a bit. Going to jail probably doesn’t help much. The officers told me to keep my sympathy. A lot of these kids steal bikes just for the thrill, and sell them off for a tenner. I have to say, my sympathy is waning!
[...] police called me at work again this week to give me an update on my stolen bike: they’ve learned nothing. The officer I spoke to was extremely kind, calling me three or four [...]