BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

I assume you have notified the person who created the craigslist notice?

There's a link on one of the Penn Avenue threads to the police department notification links. You could drop them a note as well, if you haven't already contacted them.

yes I responded to their ad and gave them a description of the guy and where he went.

FWIW, I had my wheels and tires stolen off my car in Shadyside, filed a police report. My roommate saw them a few weeks later on Collins St (near where the Target is now), and I called the police and said I can tell you exactly where the car is. They said, without serial numbers, they can't do anything.

Mind you, I had staggered tire sizes, mismatched brands, and I knew the exact dimensions of the tires/wheels, offets, bolt circles, pictures, receipts, etc., and they still said no. I was the 4th or 5th person that it happened to in the same week and they were still unwilling to follow up.

Yeah, I believe this. So everyone, write down the serial number on your bottom bracket right away.

Unfortunately I don't know if wheels have them. But I suspect that there is a way to id them permanently somehow (e.g., engrave your initials and driver's licence # on the inside of the rim). So you might want to do that.

One thing to be cautious of is confronting the person you see with the stolen property. May be someone who thinks they bought it fair and square.

If it is worth anything get records. Digital pics and hard copies. If it cost a fair amount, such that it might impact your activities for the month take a policy on it.

@rice rocket

I would encourage talking to somebody higher up the chain.

Not everything that is stolen has serial numbers.

Also, what does that prove? What if two people have the serial number? I could lock my bike up outside and somebody could grab serial numbers.

@Pierce yeah, but that's the first thing the police ask for. I think the recommended way is to engrave the item yourself, with something associated with you, like your state abbreviation and driver's license #, assuming you have one. Don't use your social security #. Then you can definitely prove it was yours.

Bikes: Etch your name on the seat tube well inside the frame. Also under the grip wrap you can write in paint pen or inside the bar ends store a piece of paper with your name on it. Also write in paint pen on the rim and or rim strips.

For car wheels that weren't stock I would paint pen my info on the wheels prior to mounting the tires and then clear coat over the info.

I would encourage talking to somebody higher up the chain.

This was years ago, but the officer was actually someone I knew. I had done some consulting work on the side for him. When he told me it wasn't a worthwhile battle, I took his word for it. Maybe that says something greater about the city police as a whole though.

When I worked at a bike shop a few years ago we recorded the serial number of every bike we sold and saved it with the customer's name and address. If this is standard practice (not sure) and you bought your bike new, you could contact the store where you purchased the bike and see if they had record of it (it was also printed on receipts I think). That said, I'd also write down the serial number of your bike(s).

My serial number is on a sticker... and I can't really etch a carbon bike

You can stash identifiers in the bike and on the seat tube.

How about just don't be a dumbass about locking your shit up

How about just don't be a dumbass about locking your shit up

i presume you're trying to be funny, and that's fine, but it never occurs to the vast majority of first-time bicycle owners how easy it is to steal a bicycle.

it was almost certainly that way for you and for me. so, maybe i'm just incredibly sensitive to victim-blaming this week, but this isn't really the right way to convey this message.

that was my snarky comment for the week, but I am honestly fed up with stupidity. Cyclists aren't blameless. If people don't lock their car doors and things get stolen, I don't really feel badly about it. People need to think.

Ms. B- A logical extension of your reasoning might be to just accept the fact that you will be struck by a car while riding on a street. Accept the fact that cars speed and drive recklessly, and it is your fault for getting in their way.

I do not accept that reasoning.

But I think we can all agree that "don't be a dumbass" are words to live by, right?

BTW sometimes people's bikes get stolen from locked garages. You might not even think it's necessary to lock them up there.

Of course there is always a possibly of almost anything happening in any situation. Someone who rides a bike in a dangerous way (weaving in and out of traffic, having no brakes, not being visible, etc.) are in theory more likely to get hurt by a vehicle or hurt themselves. an unlocked or poorly locked bicycle is more likely to get stolen than a properly locked bike. I wouldn't say it is anyone's fault except the driver's if a cyclist is being safe and is nailed from behind. If I left a bottle of Advil on the couch without a lid and my dogs ate all of it, I would consider myself to be at fault and a dumbass.

Someone who rides a bike in a dangerous way (weaving in and out of traffic, having no brakes, not being visible, etc

Why, I saw this very dumbass late last night inbound on Ellsworth. Ninja bike weaving across the entirety of the road while the rider poked his phone. It looked like an e-bike but with brakes. Oncoming traffic was dodging him!. //shudder//

The owner got back to be today, they are apparently gonna stake out the location I gave them. I have no other info at this time.

Three days to respond? Something doesnt seem quite right.

Its ok he checks out and is legit. It turns out i was working side by side with the bikes owner on Saturday setting up pedal Pittsburgh. I have met him in passing a few times over the last couple years at bike polo night. He is also a venture outdoors employee. I really hope he gets the bike back is was a nice setup.