Buying a stolen bike
#76
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I'd be more than happy to hear that the statistics I found were in error. What I found was that the recovery rate for meth addicts who were fortunate enough to receive residential treatment was only 12%. So 88% of those lucky ones plus virtually all of the others are destined to live short, miserable lives during which they will inflict pain and suffering on their loved ones and society in general. Who among them, if they were able to retain rational thought and and conscience, would not want a quick end?
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#77
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They shoplift quite often, or run return scams. My wife is a manager at Lowes, on a daily basis people try to scam their returns. They find receipt in the parking lot, then go into the store, get the item listed on the receipt, and try to return it. The items are usually high ticket items like power tools, power washers, and the like.
Oh, and in my area, they steal bikes, and post them for sale on craigslist.
Last edited by phughes; 11-02-20 at 11:14 AM.
#78
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I have questions:
1. This is a Bianchi frame being sold, not a complete bike... "a nice older model that looks to be in good shape". I'm curious as to what model, what year, and what the listing indicated and/or how the OP was able to identify the make and model of the frame.
2. There is a cable lock attached to the frame, which everyone including the OP is pointing to as evidence that it's stolen. Was the complete bike stolen without cutting said lock? If the bike was a complete bike when stolen, are we to believe that the thief had the tools and knowledge to completely strip down the bike to the bare frameset but didn't bother to cut off a cable lock? Or are we to believe that the frameset was already stripped down, but also locked up? Surely someone who steals bikes knows how to cut a cable lock, right? It takes about 3 seconds with some bolt cutters.
3. What are the "local classifieds" where this bike frame was spotted? I would like to see photos, read the description, know the asking price, and most importantly understand how the thread starter was able to identify the seller and look at their "other items" that they're selling, and see what was so alarming about the profile pic that resulted in searching court records. I've never seen a classified listing that includes a sellers full name and a photo of them. It's worth noting that Craigslist does not disclose the identity of sellers in listings, and the thief in this story has presumably chosen to sidestep craigslist in favor of "local classifieds" that requires lots of identifying information and a profile pic.
4. The OP is considering buying the frame (to take to the police!), but is worried that a meth addict will then know where they live. I'm very confused about this part because why would someone spend their own money on something they know is stolen only to turn it over to the police, and also they could just call the police now and never have to talk to the seller. It's also notable that purchasing items through a classified listing does not require someone to disclose their name or address. I've bought and sold many items on the internet and never disclosed this information to anyone
1. This is a Bianchi frame being sold, not a complete bike... "a nice older model that looks to be in good shape". I'm curious as to what model, what year, and what the listing indicated and/or how the OP was able to identify the make and model of the frame.
2. There is a cable lock attached to the frame, which everyone including the OP is pointing to as evidence that it's stolen. Was the complete bike stolen without cutting said lock? If the bike was a complete bike when stolen, are we to believe that the thief had the tools and knowledge to completely strip down the bike to the bare frameset but didn't bother to cut off a cable lock? Or are we to believe that the frameset was already stripped down, but also locked up? Surely someone who steals bikes knows how to cut a cable lock, right? It takes about 3 seconds with some bolt cutters.
3. What are the "local classifieds" where this bike frame was spotted? I would like to see photos, read the description, know the asking price, and most importantly understand how the thread starter was able to identify the seller and look at their "other items" that they're selling, and see what was so alarming about the profile pic that resulted in searching court records. I've never seen a classified listing that includes a sellers full name and a photo of them. It's worth noting that Craigslist does not disclose the identity of sellers in listings, and the thief in this story has presumably chosen to sidestep craigslist in favor of "local classifieds" that requires lots of identifying information and a profile pic.
4. The OP is considering buying the frame (to take to the police!), but is worried that a meth addict will then know where they live. I'm very confused about this part because why would someone spend their own money on something they know is stolen only to turn it over to the police, and also they could just call the police now and never have to talk to the seller. It's also notable that purchasing items through a classified listing does not require someone to disclose their name or address. I've bought and sold many items on the internet and never disclosed this information to anyone
There's also 3 BMX bikes in the listing that I don't give a rats a$$ about, but 2 of them look to have rattle can paint jobs. Text from the ad below; it's entirely possible they just have bike frames and parts collected from over the years, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was parts stripped off bikes to make them harder to identify.
"Bike frames for sale asking $100 for all four together i have a bunch of parts as well that I could throw in for $30 so all together 130 and its yours"
#79
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With the picture, it is quite different in my eyes. Locks like these left on bikes are pretty common, left by the owners who ride bike with them for years and don't have key for the lock anymore. IMO that lock is no pointer that the bike was stolen or at least that it is some 'hot stuff'... by that I mean that the seller would be actively moving stolen bike parts.
It may well be the guy came by the bike in a good faith, might have gone around on the garbage collection days and brought home what people put out to sidewalk. You can come across even some gems that way, people make living that way. I say in good faith because even in such situations, the bike might well have been stolen long ago by the people who put it out for garbage collection, so it is always worthwhile to check it anyway. Going by the pick, it doesn't look like some 'operation moving stolen bikes and parts', because that would be not be worthwhile to them on this scale, in such a fashion, for that relatively little gain for the time invested. Stolen bikes don't look like they spent years in some dusty corner in a garage and you see such dismembered bikes or whatever else, even cars in such state in many barns.
In yourplace, I'd go in and offer something less just for this frame, just maybe check the serial on your phone right there if there is some website with collected stolen bikes ser #s , sometimes police have such service too.
BTW BMX bikes with rattle can paint job, that's what kids do to their own bikes to makes them look hip, not new, somewhat like jeans with holes in them and such likes
It may well be the guy came by the bike in a good faith, might have gone around on the garbage collection days and brought home what people put out to sidewalk. You can come across even some gems that way, people make living that way. I say in good faith because even in such situations, the bike might well have been stolen long ago by the people who put it out for garbage collection, so it is always worthwhile to check it anyway. Going by the pick, it doesn't look like some 'operation moving stolen bikes and parts', because that would be not be worthwhile to them on this scale, in such a fashion, for that relatively little gain for the time invested. Stolen bikes don't look like they spent years in some dusty corner in a garage and you see such dismembered bikes or whatever else, even cars in such state in many barns.
In yourplace, I'd go in and offer something less just for this frame, just maybe check the serial on your phone right there if there is some website with collected stolen bikes ser #s , sometimes police have such service too.
BTW BMX bikes with rattle can paint job, that's what kids do to their own bikes to makes them look hip, not new, somewhat like jeans with holes in them and such likes
Last edited by vane171; 11-04-20 at 02:10 PM.
#80
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I'd be more than happy to hear that the statistics I found were in error. What I found was that the recovery rate for meth addicts who were fortunate enough to receive residential treatment was only 12%. So 88% of those lucky ones plus virtually all of the others are destined to live short, miserable lives during which they will inflict pain and suffering on their loved ones and society in general. Who among them, if they were able to retain rational thought and and conscience, would not want a quick end?
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#81
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I always thought it would be a great idea for there to be places where addicts could check themselves in, sign a waiver, and then have unlimited access to whatever drug they wanted. And if they die they die, if they recover they recover, but all of this happens someplace where other people's lives are not affected. Will probably never happen though, due to humanitarian concerns and lawsuits, but most addicts would probably love a deal like that, and it would not cost society much.
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#82
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And most people who have deep insecurities (manifested by egomania and narcissism) don't really that they're the ones who cost society enormously because of their lack of perspective and empathy. Most are consumption-driven, upper-middle-class ego victims; a truly tragic waste of a life.
#83
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#84
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Lots of poor reading comprehension here. I'm definitely in favor of letting folks choose what they want. Want to go out in a blaze of glory? Fine with me.
#85
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