Stolen 29er on the road

[Cassie]

I have a dilemma - Saturday, as I was driving around town, I noticed this - lets call him a "gardener" (I do not want to stereotype, nor be accused of rassism) but definately a person of low income....cycling along on this rather nice looking MTB with HUGE tyres...turns out to be  29er....

 

Now surely this bike is stolen???  What do one do in such an event?

 

Stop the dude and ask where he got the bike?

Report it to the SAPS?

Offer the dude R500 for his R15k+ machine??

 

I make a point of checking out every bike that someone cycles on past me since mine got stolen by my ex-gardener and I caught him two months later commuting on my bike!! (We will not go into waht happened to him...suffice to say I got my bike back!!)

 

I've also seen a Red Specialised (looked like an Epic) leasurely cycling past me in Stellenbosch the one day - as if this bloke owns the Bank of England and he on his way to make a withdrawal.... I doubled back for that one...but could not find in him in my subsequent search!

 

What to do???

 

 

[chuck]

I would confront him but not when you are alone. If it's stolen chances are good that he will drop everything and bail.

[Bike Mob]

I would stop him and buy it from him, then advertise it as found and claim a reward for your money back, what ever you paid for it.

 

[dirtrider]

And how do we bust a shop in Maputo that sells stolen bikes ??

[AdriFerrari]

 

I guess once you've had a bike stolen, you are forever on the lookout... and not always sure how to approach someone.

 

At varsity in Stellenbosch the Student Security Services used to 'tagg' our bikes with a little metal plate that had a number on it. And then the number was connected to your details, etc. That number you could also reference when your bike was stolen. The metal plate used to be under the seat.. but since i now ride a more expensive bike, I'd want it rather on the frame and then maybe even some of the other components too.

 

But lately I have thought that what we really need is something like a "TRACKER" system for bikes. One that you can activate as soon as you see your bike is gone. And they would also phone and ask about your whereabouts if the bike is shown to be in a dodgy area where no trails/races are.

Obviously I wont be paying the standard car "Tracker"-fee for my bike, but I've seen some bikes that are worth more than my CAR, so maybe for them.

Think we need an entrepeneur here.

 

AdriFerrari2010-03-08 04:09:56

[Cassie]

I would stop him and buy it from him' date=' then advertise it as found and claim a reward for your money back, what ever you paid for it.
[/quote']

 I've been REALLY tempted a couple of times....but then - don't we just create a new opportunity for another bike to be stolen? Aiding the trade in stolen bikes? Even thought of buying a btrand new GAme special and do a straight forward swop...on the spot no questions asked...but I simply cannot condone this action...the dude needs to be behind bars!!

 

[SuperMario]

I guess once you've had a bike stolen' date=' you are forever on the lookout... and not always sure how to approach someone.

At varsity in Stellenbosch the Student Security Services used to 'tagg' our bikes with a little metal plate that had a number on it. And then the number was connected to your details, etc. That number you could also reference when your bike was stolen. The metal plate used to be under the seat.. but since i now ride a more expensive bike, I'd want it rather on the frame and then maybe even some of the other components too.

But lately I have thought that what we really need is something like a "TRACKER" system for bikes. One that you can activate as soon as you see your bike is gone. And they would also phone and ask about your whereabouts if the bike is shown to be in a dodgy area where no trails/races are.
Obviously I wont be paying the standard car "Tracker"-fee for my bike, but I've seen some bikes that are worth more than my CAR, so maybe for them.
Think we need an entrepeneur here.
[/quote']

 

Looking into it already ....

[Bike Mob]

 

I would confront him but not when you are alone. If it's stolen chances are good that he will drop everything and bail.

 

Only if he stole it personally, chances are he bought it for 200 bucks from whoever stole it.

 

[traaidmark]

Can't we just speak to companies like Tracker, and have them install a tracker? Like AdriFerari said. I think that's a brilliant idea. Get a helicopter on that thieve's ass!!!

[greatwhite]

You are missing one small aspect - they guy riding the bike didn't necesserily steal it. I had a bike stolen a few years back - saw it a few months later. The cops happend to be near by and nabbed the guy - turns out he bought it from a pawn shop and another guy had sold it to this shop.

 

Poor bastard who has the bike was out of pocket and he did nothing wrong as far as he knew.....

 

While Cassie gardener is a case in point, I struggle to believe all bike thieves are stupid enough to ride the bike they stole in the area they stole it

[AndreZA]

Can't we just speak to companies like Tracker' date=' and have them install a tracker? Like AdriFerari said. I think that's a brilliant idea. Get a helicopter on that thieve's ass!!![/quote']

 

 

 

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/immobitag/index.html

 

 

 

http://www.immobitag.com/uk/

 

 

[AdriFerrari]

That's great news. Wonder what our stats are for bikes stolen every xx seconds?

 

I am however concerned about: "That means that when the bike is finally seized by the Police they'll

be able to scan the tag and identify you as its owner using the info on

the Immobilise database, giving you a very high chance of getting your

bike back." and this is a British product commentary!?!?!

 

Thinking the way to go is independent and not to rely on the police. Guess that's the exact reason why Tracker is successful.