Buying a stolen bike
10-31-20, 02:01 PM
#51
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I bought a $40 old steel bike at an estate sale with locked cable lock wound around under the seat . I wasn't the least bit concerned that it might be stolen . I lifted the fenders and collapsing steel rack and gave it to an old fella down the street.
Not once did I have a thought it might be stolen.
The mindset of some people scares the bejeebies out of me.
Not once did I have a thought it might be stolen.
The mindset of some people scares the bejeebies out of me.
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10-31-20, 02:09 PM
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I agree it looks like it’s not worth the time. One thought. On the same site or Craig’s List did anyone post a picture of the assembled bike reporting it stolen? I look over Craig’s List just to look. A few years ago I saw a nice Specialized road bike list for sale. Then a few listings later a post with a picture about a so similar bike being stolen. Came out good. Contacted the guy who posted it stolen with the sellers link. The Richmond police took care of it and the bike was returned. Not sure what happened to the crook. Does not happen often but a nice ending. On the motorcycle sites victims post pictures and VIN number. So if a possible buyer searches for the VIN it will pop up.
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10-31-20, 02:16 PM
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I wouldn't say he jumped to conclusions, but made a logical conclusion. It doesn't take much for people who are familiar with sketchy behavior to put 2 and 2 together.
10-31-20, 02:50 PM
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Because I'm not a stupid addict who stole it out of someone's garage with the lock on and didn't know how to cut a cable lock? Way too much assumption that criminals are actually smart. I defend them for a living, and I'm also sure you've seen enough to know they're often anything but smart.
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10-31-20, 02:56 PM
#57
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I bought a $40 old steel bike at an estate sale with locked cable lock wound around under the seat . I wasn't the least bit concerned that it might be stolen . I lifted the fenders and collapsing steel rack and gave it to an old fella down the street.
Not once did I have a thought it might be stolen.
The mindset of some people scares the bejeebies out of me.
Not once did I have a thought it might be stolen.
The mindset of some people scares the bejeebies out of me.
Context is everything there. Huge differences between an estate sale and some guy with a classified ad. Also, this is just a frame attached with a lock, which is a bit weirder.
And just out of curiosity, was it an estate sale of a known meth user?
10-31-20, 03:00 PM
#58
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Because I'm not a stupid addict who stole it out of someone's garage with the lock on and didn't know how to cut a cable lock? Way too much assumption that criminals are actually smart. I defend them for a living, and I'm also sure you've seen enough to know they're often anything but smart.
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10-31-20, 03:15 PM
#59
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I see locks on bikes for sale and don't think they are stolen. I think they were locked up when ridden places.
I see bikes for sale with stuff on em that isnt for sale like bottles, GPS, and wedge bags. I see bikes for sale with flat tires, chains off rings, and bars flipped up.
i mention this because i see bikes for sale in various forms of condition and don't think they are stolen. I just think the owners are lazy and/or don't know any better.
Leaving a lock on the bike isn't an indicator of theft to me. Maybe I am missing something obvious here.
Its all about what the default perspective is. If Glenn looks at all bikes and considers them stolen until proven otherwise, then the Glenn didn't jump to conclusions.
Thats an exhausting way to live, but sure i accept he wouldn't jump to a conclusion since its his default position for everything used.
One sould ask why they would participate in used sales if they consider everything stolen though. And perhaps Glenn only buys new unless someone has paperwork dating back decades in hand.
The jump to conclusions mat is a perfect meme as it references a hilarious scene of a funny movie and describes Glenn's response. He hears a bike has a lock on it and is sold by someone with a drug arrest and concludes the bike is stolen- thats basically the perfect reason to say he jumped to conclusions.
At least it is the perfect reason for me to say it.
Perspective is fascinating.
I see bikes for sale with stuff on em that isnt for sale like bottles, GPS, and wedge bags. I see bikes for sale with flat tires, chains off rings, and bars flipped up.
i mention this because i see bikes for sale in various forms of condition and don't think they are stolen. I just think the owners are lazy and/or don't know any better.
Leaving a lock on the bike isn't an indicator of theft to me. Maybe I am missing something obvious here.
Its all about what the default perspective is. If Glenn looks at all bikes and considers them stolen until proven otherwise, then the Glenn didn't jump to conclusions.
Thats an exhausting way to live, but sure i accept he wouldn't jump to a conclusion since its his default position for everything used.
One sould ask why they would participate in used sales if they consider everything stolen though. And perhaps Glenn only buys new unless someone has paperwork dating back decades in hand.
The jump to conclusions mat is a perfect meme as it references a hilarious scene of a funny movie and describes Glenn's response. He hears a bike has a lock on it and is sold by someone with a drug arrest and concludes the bike is stolen- thats basically the perfect reason to say he jumped to conclusions.
At least it is the perfect reason for me to say it.
Perspective is fascinating.
Suggest you brush up on the reading comprehension. He never concluded anything but that's there's a high enough probability that it's stolen that he shouldn't buy it. That's entirely rational. I part ways with him when he suggests buying and getting it checked out by the police. That isn't rational, but not for the reason you give.
From what I know of meth users, this gets pretty close to a "more likely than not" standard for me.
Also, unless you're completely compulsive hoarder or some kind of resale merchant, a presumption against buying any particular used good is your default. Do you seriously go to garage sales and buy everything that doesn't look stolen? My suspicions about this item would just be a thumb on a scale that generally defaults to "not worth my time." It's actually the opposite of exhausting, it's time saving.
And I find it very weird that someone took everything off of this frame but the lock with the intention of selling the frame. There could be an innocent explanation, but I'm not betting on it if I don't know the seller or have other indicia of reliability.
10-31-20, 03:20 PM
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I worked as a police dispatcher for 15 years. I've seen my fair share of stupid criminals. One of my favorite examples was the boyfriend-girlfriend team who went to some small car lot to test drive a used car, drove to Walmart to have the key copied, then drove it back to the car lot. That night they took their copied key to the car lot, stole the car, and then parked it in their driveway to load it up with their stuff to drive to California. In doing so, they accidentally locked their key in the trunk. They still made it to California but were arrested and extradited for the car theft.
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10-31-20, 03:26 PM
#61
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I used to live in Manchester NH, and there was a pawn shop that was very well known to be a fencing operation. It took the cops years to build the case that they just weren't sloppy with the paperwork and were actually intentionally dealing in stolen goods. If you think it's difficult to get away with on Craigslist, I've got a few bridges to sell you.
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10-31-20, 03:56 PM
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It doesn't sound like it's a lot of money to risk, on the one-in-a-million chance that the police show up at your door and confiscate the bike as evidence. That could happen with anything.
10-31-20, 04:17 PM
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Suggest you brush up on the reading comprehension. He never concluded anything but that's there's a high enough probability that it's stolen that he shouldn't buy it. That's entirely rational. I part ways with him when he suggests buying and getting it checked out by the police. That isn't rational, but not for the reason you give.
From what I know of meth users, this gets pretty close to a "more likely than not" standard for me.
Also, unless you're completely compulsive hoarder or some kind of resale merchant, a presumption against buying any particular used good is your default. Do you seriously go to garage sales and buy everything that doesn't look stolen? My suspicions about this item would just be a thumb on a scale that generally defaults to "not worth my time." It's actually the opposite of exhausting, it's time saving.
And I find it very weird that someone took everything off of this frame but the lock with the intention of selling the frame. There could be an innocent explanation, but I'm not betting on it if I don't know the seller or have other indicia of reliability.
From what I know of meth users, this gets pretty close to a "more likely than not" standard for me.
Also, unless you're completely compulsive hoarder or some kind of resale merchant, a presumption against buying any particular used good is your default. Do you seriously go to garage sales and buy everything that doesn't look stolen? My suspicions about this item would just be a thumb on a scale that generally defaults to "not worth my time." It's actually the opposite of exhausting, it's time saving.
And I find it very weird that someone took everything off of this frame but the lock with the intention of selling the frame. There could be an innocent explanation, but I'm not betting on it if I don't know the seller or have other indicia of reliability.
I think such a conclusion is a big jump, since nothing more was specifically known about the seller, so I posted a well known pop culture joke referring to that conclusion I think he jumped to.
I get it, you don't feel like it was a big jump to make. Ok then, cool. You have made your points well known, yet I still think the meme was very applicable.
Here is a well known gif that is now quite applicable-
10-31-20, 04:25 PM
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Gee. Wonder what happened to the OP after browsing the classifieds as he always does.
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10-31-20, 05:15 PM
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Oh my gosh, he concluded that since a guy has a drug arrest record and a lock is on the frame, its most likely stolen.
I think such a conclusion is a big jump, since nothing more was specifically known about the seller, so I posted a well known pop culture joke referring to that conclusion I think he jumped to.
I get it, you don't feel like it was a big jump to make. Ok then, cool. You have made your points well known, yet I still think the meme was very applicable.
Here is a well known gif that is now quite applicable-
I think such a conclusion is a big jump, since nothing more was specifically known about the seller, so I posted a well known pop culture joke referring to that conclusion I think he jumped to.
I get it, you don't feel like it was a big jump to make. Ok then, cool. You have made your points well known, yet I still think the meme was very applicable.
Here is a well known gif that is now quite applicable-
I'm going to be charitable and assume you realize the irony of posting THAT meme after you post the exact same points for the third time.
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11-01-20, 08:23 AM
#66
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I suppose an intact lock on a bike pic wouldn't set off any alarms for me. Spray paint definitely does though. I've seen this one on my local FB listings lately... If it was the original owner doing it to make it less of a target I think they would have done it a bit neater back in the day.
11-01-20, 01:53 PM
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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
Last edited by msu2001la; 11-01-20 at 02:00 PM.
11-01-20, 03:13 PM
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^^^^We may all have fed the you know what on this one. I suggest OP post a screen shot of the ad before folks spend any more time here.
11-01-20, 06:40 PM
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11-01-20, 06:57 PM
#71
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If you decide to buy it, make the exchange in the police station parking lot. Our police encourage that. It is under video surveillance. He won’t know where you live. And if he won’t agree to it, something is wrong.
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11-01-20, 09:16 PM
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Stolen bike or not, I'm excited to see how many cyclists know so many 'statistics' about drug addiction. Would love to see a post from someone listing their CV in research on drug dependency.
Or, perhaps, just simply stop talking out their rear ends.
Or, perhaps, just simply stop talking out their rear ends.
11-01-20, 11:19 PM
#73
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It seems the same as most anything else that is studied and published- stats are available for simple reference.
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11-01-20, 11:25 PM
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11-02-20, 06:15 AM
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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?