Carte Blanche TV

[Pappa Bear]

Here is an idea.....

 

1) How about all bikes get barcoded (or simaler).

2) The barcode is then linked to a database with a description and status (Stolen, lost etc.).

3) Before you enter a cycling spot (Groenkloof, VTM, Tokai, MTN CP etc.) you r bike gets scanned to see if it is stolen etc.

4) Obviosly you are not allowed in the cycling spot if your bike is not tagged

5) Before you are allowed to take part in a race your bike get scanned to see if it is stolen.

6) Obviosly you are not allowed to race with an untagged bike

7) No new bikes are allowed to be sold that is not tagged

 

This can assist in killing the market for stolen bikes...... Above is just a briefe description of a concept and sure there is many loop holes etc.

 

The above seems to be a bit of a hassel, getting a barcode, register, scanning before racing or riding - but what is the alternative? Keep on getting bike jacked?

[nathrix]

I will entertain you with some answers:

 

if this is the last resort, what other steps were taken? Nothing, still debating for a solution.

 

how many of those affected have joined their local cpf's? Don't know.

 

how many have opened up cases and actively followed up with the detective? Case was opened. Won't follow up as we know the POWlice have "more" important cases to investigate.

 

what's actually been done to get to grips with this? Make as many people aware as we can and discuss.

 

what are you expecting the cops to do? Nothing honestly.

 

do you honestly think they're going to put you to the head of the queue, jump you ahead of the staggering amount of rapes and murders and assaults that 95% of the rest of the population has reported? if you choose to ride in remote spots, should the cops be pulled away from their regular patrols just to look after you, will you still feel the same way when a family becomes a statistic because you guys knowingly and happily put yourselves at risk? No, not in the least.

Edited June 21, 2011 by nathrix™ ® ©

[EigerSA]

my suggestions...

 

1. take lots of pics of ur bikes, from every angle. record component names and serial numbers if any.

 

2. when stolen, report to cops and supply pics and description.

 

3. approach bike shops to put up a notice board.

 

4. print pics out, hand to all bike shops in the immediate area, ask hub members in other areas to print out pics and hand to bike shops.

 

5. do the same for pawn shops & 2nd hand shops. maybe consider offering a reward for info.

 

6. get number of detective and phone once a week for an update. please understand the detective himself is probably no more an expert in bikes than you are, don't expect miracles, he/she is human.

 

7. meet with local cpf and hand out pics.

 

8. be proactive

 

9. place an ad in guntree and other foums

 

10. don't give up

Edited June 21, 2011 by EigerSA

[Wyatt Earp]

if this is the last resort, what other steps were taken? how many of those affected have joined their local cpf's? how many have opened up cases and actively followed up with the detective? what's actually been done to get to grips with this?

 

what are you expecting the cops to do? do you honestly think they're going to put you to the head of the queue, jump you ahead of the staggering amount of rapes and murders and assaults that 95% of the rest of the population has reported? if you choose to ride in remote spots, should the cops be pulled away from their regular patrols just to look after you, will you still feel the same way when a family becomes a statistic because you guys knowingly and happily put yourselves at risk?

 

As much as I have enjoyed your posts in the past, I have to say that this time I think you have lost the plot, if you aren't actively involved in the police , then no need to defend them.

Now to refer to what I have highlighted, we are not kids with no voice and mental capability, we have exhausted all avenues, as I said, now they are even coming in to the residential areas, so the remote riding reference is a bit of a moot point.

[covie]

if this is the last resort, what other steps were taken? how many of those affected have joined their local cpf's? how many have opened up cases and actively followed up with the detective? what's actually been done to get to grips with this?

 

what are you expecting the cops to do? do you honestly think they're going to put you to the head of the queue, jump you ahead of the staggering amount of rapes and murders and assaults that 95% of the rest of the population has reported? if you choose to ride in remote spots, should the cops be pulled away from their regular patrols just to look after you, will you still feel the same way when a family becomes a statistic because you guys knowingly and happily put yourselves at risk?

 

 

Your such a tart eiger but im sure i dont have to tell you that. No we do not need to pull away police from their "duties" which most of then neglect anyway. We pay taxes we have a right to do the sport we love and we pay taxes to make sure the guvment can hire enough police to ensure citizen saftey, this should include regional areas. Point being is the police and the guvment are both equally useless. Hence the thriving private security market in this country. So if the police force is inadequate then my tax Rands can be used by the various authorities to contract out private patrols for these areas. Also why would you deem a robbery and muging in a urban area more of a priority than one that occured in a park, mountain, regional street?

 

Because we can affork 40k bikes and have insurance on them does not mean the police have a right to ignore the problem. Its a matter of time before someone gets killed. The lack of actioning on these criminal elements just invariably means they will move on to bigger and better crimes and people WILL get hurt..

 

The rest of the point is private citizens should never have to put themselves in harms way under any condition, and as long as guvment and the police tollerate these "minor" crimes the worse it will get and the bigger the problem will be one day.

 

Can we change anything probably not, everything we complain about fallso n deaf ears, but visibility about the situation needs to be created in the hope that someone somewhere in the echelons of guvment will pick up the gauntlet and work on crime prevention rather than after the fact detection. As long as crime pays in this country which it obviously does, you the normal guy on the street will suffer, your children will suffer. But apparently that does not matter to you. Well to me and my daughter it does.

 

And the police should never say they dont have enough resources, just wait for crayfish season here in the cape, I have perosnally seen up to 18 police men and women standing around the habour counting and searching boats on slipways that only allow one boat at a time to exit the water. 2 would be more than enough. So there are hundres of cops that litterally does nothing in the western cape except sit around and get fat. Some patrols in the fresh air will only do them some good.

[grb285]

Here is an idea.....

 

1) How about all bikes get barcoded (or simaler).

2) The barcode is then linked to a database with a description and status (Stolen, lost etc.).

3) Before you enter a cycling spot (Groenkloof, VTM, Tokai, MTN CP etc.) you r bike gets scanned to see if it is stolen etc.

4) Obviosly you are not allowed in the cycling spot if your bike is not tagged

5) Before you are allowed to take part in a race your bike get scanned to see if it is stolen.

6) Obviosly you are not allowed to race with an untagged bike

7) No new bikes are allowed to be sold that is not tagged

 

This can assist in killing the market for stolen bikes...... Above is just a briefe description of a concept and sure there is many loop holes etc.

 

The above seems to be a bit of a hassel, getting a barcode, register, scanning before racing or riding - but what is the alternative? Keep on getting bike jacked?

The problem with this idea is that most of these bikes get sold for parts. Another issue is that lots of people don't ride at bike parks and don't race. The biggest problem is my freedom. What right do you have to suspect me of being involved in criminal activities and expecting me to let you scan my things? Next thing we'll have airport style x-ray machines at Tokai's gate.

 

my suggestions...

 

1. take lots of pics of ur bikes, from every angle. record component names and serial numbers if any.

 

2. when stolen, report to cops and supply pics and description.

 

3. approach bike shops to put up a notice board.

 

4. print pics out, hand to all bike shops in the immediate area, ask hub members in other areas to print out pics and hand to bike shops.

 

5. do the same for pawn shops & 2nd hand shops. maybe consider offering a reward for info.

 

6. get number of detective and phone once a week for an update. please understand the detective himself is probably no more an expert in bikes than you are, don't expect miracles, he/she is human.

 

7. meet with local cpf and hand out pics.

 

8. be proactive

 

9. place an ad in guntree and other foums

 

10. don't give up

 

Why not just take down the serial numbers of each component (shock, forks, fram, brakes), and have it stamped at the police station.

 

Then, get bike insurance and stop worrying.

[nathrix]

In my humble opinion each bicycle sold should have a manufacturer serial number on the frame and should be registered in a central database. I know there is a website where you can register your serial number, but it should be made law to have it registered. Bicycle's that gets sold, entered in a race, entering a bicycle park, go through a road block or going through a border post/airport just to name a view, these bicycle serial numbers should be checked on the central database and confiscated if stolen or if it has no/removed manufacturer original serial number. Just my 2 cents again

[pauloc]

The truth of the matter is that the SAPF are swamped. We can't rely on them solely to resolve this issue, although as Eiger pointed out, you could make decent progress by using the CPF forums and by regularly chasing up with the investigating officers.

 

In my opinion, the approach taken by Giba is the only realistic solution. A PI can do all the investigative work and provide the findings and culprits to the police who can then wrap up the case and prosecute. Let's face it - a PI is motivated to find the criminals asap to get their fee for the least amount of work and they'll have contacts within the SAPS to get assistance where needs be.

[covie]

Cyclists MUST get pro-actively involved in safeguarding their own sport. Nobody else is going to do it.

Let us start taking the suggestions and turning them into actions.

 

Two years ago while i was driving a guy stuck a knife to my throught through my car window, he wanted my wallet and my cell, I gave it to him, when he turned to run i got out of the car ran after him, caught him, beat the living **** out of him.

 

Long story short, one nasty court case which he almost freaking won, becuase I assulted him without cause. Many thousands of rands on laywers, and an explenation from the judge.

 

"I should have subdued him without violence till such time the police arrived"

 

So WTF, should i have asked him niceley to stand still on one spot till the police gets here?

 

Point being, you as an citizen can do absolutly nothing to a mugger bike jacker, if you touch him your in trouble. Even if he pulls a gun and you have a gun, in this country he has to shoot first, before you are allowed to fire off a warning shot let alone shoot him back.

[grb285]

Your such a tart eiger but im sure i dont have to tell you that. No we do not need to pull away police from their "duties" which most of then neglect anyway. We pay taxes we have a right to do the sport we love and we pay taxes to make sure the guvment can hire enough police to ensure citizen saftey, this should include regional areas. Point being is the police and the guvment are both equally useless. Hence the thriving private security market in this country. So if the police force is inadequate then my tax Rands can be used by the various authorities to contract out private patrols for these areas. Also why would you deem a robbery and muging in a urban area more of a priority than one that occured in a park, mountain, regional street?

 

Because we can affork 40k bikes and have insurance on them does not mean the police have a right to ignore the problem. Its a matter of time before someone gets killed. The lack of actioning on these criminal elements just invariably means they will move on to bigger and better crimes and people WILL get hurt..

 

The rest of the point is private citizens should never have to put themselves in harms way under any condition, and as long as guvment and the police tollerate these "minor" crimes the worse it will get and the bigger the problem will be one day.

 

Can we change anything probably not, everything we complain about fallso n deaf ears, but visibility about the situation needs to be created in the hope that someone somewhere in the echelons of guvment will pick up the gauntlet and work on crime prevention rather than after the fact detection. As long as crime pays in this country which it obviously does, you the normal guy on the street will suffer, your children will suffer. But apparently that does not matter to you. Well to me and my daughter it does.

 

And the police should never say they dont have enough resources, just wait for crayfish season here in the cape, I have perosnally seen up to 18 police men and women standing around the habour counting and searching boats on slipways that only allow one boat at a time to exit the water. 2 would be more than enough. So there are hundres of cops that litterally does nothing in the western cape except sit around and get fat. Some patrols in the fresh air will only do them some good.

Covie, I like your headspace. Your posts are sensible. Thanks for being at the party.

 

Just something to think about regarding private security. In the government's eyes, it's the best thing you can have. Basically, there's less cops that they need to train and hire, so there's more tax money to steal, AND, the ADT's/Chubbs etc have to pay tax on their earnings, so there's even more money to steal. There's no interest for them to work it any other way.

[EigerSA]

As much as I have enjoyed your posts in the past, I have to say that this time I think you have lost the plot, if you aren't actively involved in the police , then no need to defend them.

Now to refer to what I have highlighted, we are not kids with no voice and mental capability, we have exhausted all avenues, as I said, now they are even coming in to the residential areas, so the remote riding reference is a bit of a moot point.

 

lol - and i yours.. and this is not a personal attack on you

 

i'm not defending the police, it's just the reality of the situation. the police are not made up of robots, but human beings. some things get their attention, some don't. and their priorities are based on crime stats, so high rapes or assaults, that's what they going to work on.

[pezulu]

Here is an idea.....

 

1) How about all bikes get barcoded (or simaler).

2) The barcode is then linked to a database with a description and status (Stolen, lost etc.).

3) Before you enter a cycling spot (Groenkloof, VTM, Tokai, MTN CP etc.) you r bike gets scanned to see if it is stolen etc.

4) Obviosly you are not allowed in the cycling spot if your bike is not tagged

5) Before you are allowed to take part in a race your bike get scanned to see if it is stolen.

6) Obviosly you are not allowed to race with an untagged bike

7) No new bikes are allowed to be sold that is not tagged

 

This can assist in killing the market for stolen bikes...... Above is just a briefe description of a concept and sure there is many loop holes etc.

 

The above seems to be a bit of a hassel, getting a barcode, register, scanning before racing or riding - but what is the alternative? Keep on getting bike jacked?

 

I like the idea behind the suggestion.

The only problem I see is the implimentation of the plan.

Who is going to scan the barcodes?

Who is going to keep the database up to date?

Who is going to imprint the barcodes on existing frames?

What about the vast majority of cyclists that are not members of this forum? Who is going to inform them about the implementation?

Where is the money going to come from for the implimentation of the scanning?

Who is going to supply the equipment to imprint/engrave frames, and the scanning equipment?

Who is going to train the people that need to use the scanners?

 

I support a national database of frame serial numbers.

I am even willing to run the database, keep it up to date, and run it on a daily basis.

The necessary software to make it work will have to be installed on one of my PC's, and someone will have to give me the training on making it work.

Getting all existing serial numbers / new serial numbers / amending ownership details will have to come from all LBS's and other interested parties to get the database up and running.

They will need to know where to send the details through.

A service provider will need to come onboard to help with the bandwidth that such an endeavour will entail.

 

All in all, the ideas are there, but we need to get them implimented.

Surely there are cyclists out there that are computer programmers, that can create the necessary programming to ensure that such a database would work.

There are bound to be PC shop owners that can supply larger hard drives, routers, modems or whatever is necessary on the hardware side.

 

In the end we all need to stand together.

If everyone pitches in any suggestion can be made to work.

 

Just another suggestion.

[leet22]

Im sorry but crime is crime. If they are swamped get more officers, if they see that bicycle hijackings are happening more and more then form a task force to deal with it. Stamp it out while it is still small. Or pretty soon crimanals are going to see that the police are lax in taking action we going to be even mopre of a target.

[EigerSA]

@covie: i hear what you're saying, and i understand that you're pretty frustrated by the system. but the fact remains the system is all we have. the reality of the situation, is that certain crimes have higher priorities than others and unfortunately for mtb'ers, theft of bikes is not prioritized very highly. if guns are used, that obviously up's the anty, but at the end of the day it's still a bike that was taken.

 

considering the inefficiency of the police, considering the lack of empathy amoungst non-riders (90% of the population at least), considering the style of riding that takes us out into remote places, don't you think we should start being responsible for our own safety?

 

consider this, even if carte-blanche does get involved, it's going to take months before it gets aired. and once it's aired and lets sat it's such a fantastic piece of journalism the country jumps and sparks, it will still be months before we see the results. so what about in the meantime?

[Honkdonk]

So it all goes round and round...

 

Its like most other things here in sunny SA - the Govt have other more important priorities to focus on and that, i am afraid filters right down.

I hope the detective working on the case does his job and the file does not get consigned to a statistics pile or the recycle bin.

 

If Carte Blanch want to get involved I will give them what info I have. If the Star want to report on it then I will give them what I have. When I hear back from my residents association chairman I will pick up on it for the next meeting and chat to the local security company and plot watch guys. Geting involved takes effort, but it is something we as tax paying citizens should not have to do.

 

Awareness is one thing, for safety sakes etc. To actaully go out and catch them is another. Catch them and you may get to the root of it. Without dressing up in camo's and hiding in wait or patrolling with a bunch of bosbefok plot watch guys (God bless them as they do great work in our area) and someone acting as bait how else do you go about it? Who is in the informant game around here? Do you think crimline extends in to the areas that this occurs? Maybe, but i doubt it.

 

Maybe the fact that a pile of phone numbers that ended up in my Outlook is the key to it all. Its like praying that you win that 20mil on the lottery. There is a small chance and if it comes through imagine the consequences...

[Chubba]

I have no doubt some criminal elements monitor this forum! Plenty information on here for a would be syndicate/criminal!

Edited June 21, 2011 by Chubba