Bike jacking - R21 Engen

[idrive]

I used to ride that railway regularly (2-3 times a week) . Usually past the pipeline to the Olifantsfontein turnoff then comeback either round the back of the Engen or on the other side of the railway & cross over at the pipeline then cross the Bapsfontein rd and get back to Edenvale or Finish Line by going past Serengeti etc.

 

I used to do it by myself at all times, but now I havent got the time (and its wet) so my rides are much shorter and closer to home but I was planning a nice long one this weekend.

 

Riding areas are vanishing ..... Siswe Hospital area is a no-go on your own, Greenstone Hill is houses, back of Linbro/Modderfontein is a death zone.

 

In December I rode over 900km and apart from 5 days in Sabie, most was in that sort of Pomona-Oilfantsfontein area.

idrive2009-02-23 10:48:48

[TNT1]

Is this route from the irene side or the benoni side? I ride to the engen from the benoni side regularly...

[idrive]

Benoni side of the R21.

 

Lately I've been doing more Petit/Baps than the north route, mainly because of those roadworks on the Olifants-Baps road.

[cat-i]

 

have been asking around about tracking devices for bicycles ... not necessarily to track the bicycle down (that too) - but to find the nest.

 

unfortunately, battery life seems to be a problem, and a bicycle have very few places to hide a tracking unit - once the thieves know there's tracking units, then they'll know where to search for it.

 

someone, a while ago, posted something about using an ordinary cell phone as a tracking device? seems like they're still stealing cellphones - that might be a way to track the attackers - and the bicycle .... on condition, of course, that the tracking is done soon after the attack, before the goods are too widespread

 

 

cat-i2009-02-23 12:06:52

[Gravity Sux]

Just to explain where this happened;

 

 

Spoke to the Lyttelton police this morning and it looks likely that these are the some of the same group that were operating in the Irene / Cornwall Hill area.  I believe they will catch them again and hopefully this time they won't get bail.  My advice, keep away from this area for the moment as it is unsafe, tell whoever you know.  Unfortunately not everybody will hear this and there will ba other attacks until these buggers are arrested.

 

On a more cheerful note, looks like I have sorted a bike for Sani2c.  An expensive exercise but we can't let stuff like this stop us doing the sport we all love. If you do have any safty incedent / near incedent please post so that others can be warned and please take these warnings seriously.

 

Thanks for all the messages of support and thanks to all my freinds who have called over the last few days.  We were very fortunate to come off as lightly as we did.

[jagwil]

Hi Gravity Sux. I hope you have a great Sani2C. Call me when you get back. ALL THE BEST FOR A GREAT RIDE.

[cat-i]

 

Just to explain where this happened;

 

On a more cheerful note' date=' looks like I have sorted a bike for Sani2c. [/quote']

 

heard this morning from one of my D&D buddies that you were gonna do sani2c ... glad you could arrange the bike, enjoy the ride !!!

 

 

 

[idrive]

There's also people living in them trees round the back of the Engen  ..... but I suspect the usual homeless aren't the ones to worry about as they are quite friendly.

 

But the barstids are everywhere posing as the homeless!!!

[idrive]

I was out riding on my own as usual this afternoon and it seems there are a lot more 'casual labourers' walking around mielie fields.

 

I don't know if its just that I'm more aware of them than I was before. But I think that with all the construction workers it is a lot easier for them to go unnoticed. Do we just assume these peolpe walking along paths are construction workers and are therefore not a threat ......or should we trat everyone as a potential murderer?

 

On Thursday I think I'll keep much closer to the Bredell end of the mielie fields.

[sias]

Treat every one as a potential murderer - be  prepared and safe rather than unprepared and dead...

[Slave]

I did not join the hub before today but have visited it regularly particularly to check for security no go areas' date=' hoping to avoid problems.

Unfortunately this morning (8am) a mate and I were attacked within 100m of the R21 (between Centurion and Kempton Park).  There were 4 atackers hiding in the grass and they they jumped out at us when we were so close that we could not react.  They were armed with pire wrench, grass slasher homemade knife and ?  I was targeted as I had a Camelback.  The one with the pipe wrench hit me twice on the head (Bell saved me there as I did not suffer any physical damage) and then once next to the knee when I was on the ground.  Also picked up a stab wound in the neck.  They made off with my Scott Spark (black with white / gold trim), my Camelback and my mates Titan (Red) - so if anyone offers this cheap to buy it and I will buy it back.

 

Lessons from this;

1. Stay away from that area.

2. There were 3 of us, one was far enough back that he could avoid the situation but even if there had been 10 we would have been in the sh*!t. When you are so close you can forget about fumbling for the pepper spray... your hands are in front of you to protect you from their weapons so... stay away fron the area.

 

Don's think there are enough emotions  to express off but the main thing is to warn other cyclists that this is now a no go area.  It is just a matter of time before there is another hit there.

[/quote']

 

Eish, words fail me. Real bad news mate and to say that at keast you got out of it uninjured is no comfort at all.

 

I feel compelled to comment on one issue though. Offering to buy your bike back, creates a market for stolen goods. If there is no market, then there should be less theft. It works in a perfect world but when you have so many that live below the breadline, ethics don't come into the equation. Your bike will prob'ly be sold in a township for next to nothing because riding is better than walking.

 

If there was some way to close down the market for stolen goods, crime would drop dramatically.

 

At least that's my 1 zim dollars worth of opinion.

 

I hope you recover from the ordeal and that your bikeis somehow recovered.

 

Maybe, it is time to get savage instead of civilised and as they say "When in Rome (scratch) Africa......"

[Gravity Sux]

Thought that I had clarified that I was not serious about the comment on recovering the goods and did not expect to see them again.  In saying that, there probably is already a market for these goods.  It would appear that those involved are part of a gang that have been involved in other attacks.  As a cyclist you are pretty much a sitting duck as these buggers were hiding in the long grass and suprised us.  Speaking to the local police I am certain that the bikes do not end up in the townships as they mentioned that they do confront anybody who is riding an expensive looking bike ... so this means that there is someone out there buying thse bikes and either selling them as components or as a whole bike.  Whoever this is they really need to be nailed.

[cat-i]

what did you ride sani2c on, gravity?

 

 

 

[idrive]

I had a bike stolen at Kyalami in Sept 07. A year later the HRM fitted to it was sent to Polar for repair ...... from Cajees in Southgate!

That proves that stolen cycling stuff is getting back into the cycling market. How do we know things advertised on The Hub aren't stolen?

idrive2009-03-03 15:00:45

[IanJ]

I had a bike stolen at Kyalami in Sept 07' date=' the HRM fitted to it was sent to Polar for repair ...... from Cajees in Southgate!

That proves that stolen cycling stuff is getting back into the cycling market. How do we know things advertised on The Hub aren't stolen?

[/quote']

 

That is interesting, were you able to track down the new owner? I would imagine he probably doesn't even know it was stolen otherwise he wouldn't have been stupid enough to send it in. I would love to know where he bought it from.

 

[idrive]

Sadly Cajees wouldn't give me details of the 'new owner' not even after pleading and explaining.

 

The unit (CS200) had been serviced by Polar when I had it, so they had my details logged against the serial number. Then it arrived (btw - beyond repair) and they phoned me because they thought it strange.

 

Bottom line, get your Polar serviced so they can log the details in case it ever goes missing.

 

It also goes to show that stolen bikes, contrary to what we are led to believe, don't end up as 'township transport'. Mine was a decent full susp GT with a very good 120 mm Rockshok Pilot on the front.

idrive2009-03-04 00:18:48