xizangstan

+3

This is the kind of thinking that makes America great!

BTW: a .45 caliber slug through each kneecap does an excellent job. Then finish 'em off with a cap in the head. The world needs fewer bike thieves, not more...

pitchpole

This thread seems to be going in a rather reactionary and self righteous direction. Everyone seems to be assuming that the seller knew it was stolen. It is completely possible that they had no idea themselves. I would bet that anyone who buys off craigslist regularly has been guilty of buying stolen bikes. Do you check the serial number on every bike that you flip? Even if you did it might still be stolen just unreported.

Kimmitt 

Xizang: You've got it exactly. The reason people are ok with bike thieves is because we do not pay bankers enough.

dmac49

You can plead all the ignorance you wish however in most states ignorance is not an affirmative defence.

JanMM

Violent is the word that comes to mind; someone has been watching too many Charles Bronson movies.

LarDasse74

In Ontario, my understanding is that, if someone buys your stolen bike and you want to reclaim it, they have to pay you the price you paid for it.. at least that's how it worked when I was working in a second hand bike shop in constant contact with 'the fuzz.'

Good on you, UWlanders! You are a good person.

MMACH 5

xizang, , really, let's keep that crap in P&R.

cehowardGS

Thank you kindly sir!!

Back on to the stolen bike topic, . When buying a used bike how can one check to see if the bike is not a stolen bike? Call the company that makes the bike with the serial number? Check with the online stolen bike registry with the serial number/make and model, etc??

xizangstan

Maybe you guys are right. Maybe it's just easier to take what you want. And if you get caught with it, you can explain that you bought it from some guy on the street corner.

RhythmRider

why don't the cops periodically check craig's list for stolen bikes/property?

doOde

damn, stolen bikes and stolen fire arms! crazy!

mustachiod

when i've had bikes, car radios, jewelry, etc. stolen. the cops have always told me to check CL, ebay and pawn shops if i wanted. otherwise just file an insurance claim. they are busy solving more important stuff and i am OK with that. if a cop is hunting down my bicycle, he isn't chasing done more violent criminals

digit1001

If you have a receipt you have proof they sold you stolen goods. If nothing else, save any email transactions you have as evidence in case they say, "never heard of him". I don't think CL will get involved, but you could probably proove they placed the ad by their email or IP info. Don't know if law enforcement would get that far into it.

Put a bunch of kiddy porn in the frame. Then the FBI will go after them...

xizangstan

Put a bunch of gunpowder in the seat tube. Then if it's stolen you can call the feds and tell them its a "pipe bomb" and have ATF go after your stolen bike!

LarDasse74

Ha! Good one. Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. I think I burn a J and read it again for some more guffaws.

evenes

props for doing the right thing even if it's not the easy thing to do!

cehowardGS

Very good points. To add to your good comments, I try very hard to make it VERY DIFFICULT to steal my bicycles or motorcycles.

xizangstan

Iranian Authorities Cut Off Hand of Thief

Published October 24, 2010 | Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iranian authorities have amputated the hand of a convicted thief in front of other prisoners, state radio reported Sunday, in a possible step toward restoring the punishment to common use and carrying it out in public.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/10...ut-hand-thief/

Kimmitt 

Clearly, the Iranians need to pay their bankers more.

vol

Too cruel. The other guy got the same punishment for stealing from a candy shop--how much candies could he have stolen to deserve losing a hand? I wonder how many handicapped people are seen on the street in these countries as a result of such punishment.

JanMM

We should let Iran show us the way towards a just society?

xizangstan

I would say only in the case of bicycle thieves.

garethzbarker

I'm seriously interested in knowing how you knew the bike was stolen?

Bleep

You did the right thing, I've taken a few bikes that I've seen improperly locked late at night that have just sat there night after night, called the police department and told them that I found the bike and instead of having someone steal it I just give it to them so they can track down the owner and give it back to them. Idk if that is pertinent though

dengidog

Take the sellers to small claims court for the full amount you paid. Without deciding if they're innocent victims or bicycle thieves, they had no right to sell you the bike. It's up to them to go after the person that sold it to them (if they were also victims). See? Watching TV does have educational value--thanks, Judge Judy!!

I know it was a lot of money, but you absolutely, positively did the right thing. Karma will come back to reward you when you least expect it.

Cheri