schlukas

alright. about a month ago my bike was stolen from my campus bike rack. i reported it stolen soon after and gave a good description of the bike. i do not have the serial number of the bike, i bought the frame at a yard sale and built the rest with parts.

i'm pretty sure i found my bike on craigslist in the next town over. the bike was green, and now it is repainted grey (looks like a decent job too).

but now there are a few options i have:

1) buy it back.

2) steal it back.

3) go to the policeman who i reported it stolen to and ask for help.


number 1 is not an option for me. i put almost $400 into my bike and do not have enough to buy it back, and if i did buy it back, the theif would only be more inclined to steal another bike.

number 2 looks nice, but requires a thought out plan and may involve breaking some laws.

number 3 also seems alright. but if it turns out to be "my word against the theifs" this option may result in a stalemate, in which case i would be forced to resort to number 2.


any experience in this area guys?

schlukas

oh yea, i bought mavic rims for it. would rims have an ID number?

Velocità

buying back doesnt sound like a good option. you really have no legal basis for the cops. i say just go pretend to buy it, take it for a test ride and dont come back. but make sure he cant trace you email or phone number

patrick.decker@

I say go for option number 2, but you have to be be sure that it is your bike.

metaljim

number 2. take a couple of buddies, park down the block, go for a test ride, and toss it in the car and go home. it's your bike! but make sure there is SOMETHING that you can identify on the bike marking it as yours, in case there is a spot of trouble.

or just walk up with your buddies, tell the dude it's your stolen bike and you're gonna take it.

kemmer

That sounds pretty good, but only if you're 100% sure it's your bike. Also remember that the seller may not be the thief, which of course doesn't mean the bike isn't yours, but I would consider calling the guy afterwards to let him know why you repo'd it.

That's even better if you're friends aren't a bunch of girlpants wearing hipsters.

sp00ki

yet another argument towards having a velospace profile setup.
if you have any pics of your bike, i'd go right to the cops. better to assure getting your bike back than risk getting shot trying to take it.

schlukas

haha thanks guys. no worries i, and my friends, are not those girlpants wearing hipsters. my boys have my back and they've all reassured me they'd go with me to pick up my bike.

TRaffic Jammer

Bring buddies and a u-lock, and exercise bike liberation play number 2. Making sure it is in fact your bike.

metaljim

don't let us down with this one either. take pictures, and report back to us. don't make us all wait like that last doofus.

schlukas

oh, dont worry. i will report back.

this bike thief is on spring break (im guessing he goes to my school) and wont be back in town till sunday.

piwonka

what you do depends on if you have a scooter or not...

bryanhayn

Don't buy it back or steal it back...TAKE it back. F*ck the police, they're good for nothing.

Get his address, go to his house late at night, break all windows. Leave a note saying you're gonna destroy his car if he doesn't leave the bike at a designated location.
or
Meet up and tell him, "I want you to prove this bike is yours" (registration papers), then when he can't, say, "I'll be taking this now...beitch!" Ride off into the sunset.

anomaly

Stab the dude who has it.

smyth

whatever you decide to do just make sure you do it as soon as you can. That'll avoid someone else buying the bike from him before you get to the bike/the seller.


kyle

SoreFeet

Take it back...Get a good test ride in.

likeaHorse

Just kill his parents and make them into chili and feed them to him. Be sure to taste his tears when you tell him.


Also, just go for a test ride, and have friends a few blocks down to either ride along with you, or pickup truck.

Either way you're golden.

jyossarian

So when the guy asks for a driver's license or cc before you can test ride it, what're you gonna do? Give the high sign to your boyz and start swingin' the u-lock?

If you need the serial # to prove it's yours, send in one of your boys to take a test ride. Have him ride it out of sight, grab the serial # off the bb and bring it back. Wait a while, then you go in, ask if you can check it against your stolen bike, show him the serial # and when it matches, tell him you'll call the cops if he don't give it to you right then and there.

cavit8

^ +1.

likeaHorse

To much work, if he asks for the ID do the u-lock thing.

TheScientist

problem solved...

veeco23

i'd say combine all these ideas into one unbeatable plan.

HelluvaStella

My coworkers now think I'm insane for cackling to my computer screen. If they knew what I was laughing at, they would probably back away slowly...

The_B.O.C.

i think either way, you need a ringer.

metaljim

i can't wait till sunday. i have things i need to do. just go over there, kill everyone, grab the bike, burn the neighborhood down, and poison the water supply. ride off into the sunset.