Chrome Molly

I would be mindful that a criminal would probably be likely to escalate violence with a potential loss or legal complication of more than the bike is worth.

mikemowbz

Fair and relevant point. In my experience, many folks overestimate the potential effectiveness of their efforts in using violence against people who may have routine experience with intense violent altercations and little compunction about escalating to a point at which someone's life may be in danger.

Some folks do know how to handle themselves in such altercations, even if a weapon becomes involved, but the number of those folks is much lesser than the number that consider responding with violence in a situation such as a petty theft (in-progress, or after-the-fact).

I've been threatened (credibly) with various blunt objects, blades, and firearms in my day by people I judged to have few reservations about making good on their threats. I consider it unwise to surprise and alarm such people.

That said, faced with someone hopping atop my ride when I'm nearby I'd likely make a snap judgement as to whether I'm dealing with someone I'm comfortable confronting/restraining or not...not to say that this would necessarily be the right judgment in any given case.

In a nutshell, I waver between options 3 & 5. Did not vote because neither option captures my position.

KonAaron Snake 

I'm a coward and poorly versed in fighting. I have no illusions as to being a tough guy and I got picked on in school rather than doing the picking. I probably would be likely to get hurt, and I agree with your more to lose approach to risk management. That said, if I ran across my Marnati under someone else's butt...I might fight for that bike. Poorly.

There was an "incident" that occurred many years back. I was riding late at night, through a dangerous area. I saw kids fanning out in front of me and I was fairly certain I was about to be the victim of a bash and grab. I didn't think I'd be able to turn around quickly enough to get away either. I didn't want to get hurt and I had a lot less to lose at that point. I did end up losing a ubolt in defense, but I also did get out of there.

CliffordK

There would be a lot of factors.

The element of surprise shouldn't be underestimated. And a physical take-down from on a bike onto the pavement would have to hurt.

Then isolated, one might be better off just recovering the bike and letting it be.

In public, then it would depend on who would be expected to have support of the crowd. If one expects the crowd to support the thief, then better just go for the bike.

On the other hand, if one expects the crowd to support the victim of the theft, then perhaps one could expect help to detain the thief, and call authorities. And perhaps the thief would also accept one's authority to hold him.

Again, no more violence than is necessary to contain the situation. In some cases it may come down to simply a verbal argument.

iab

It's just stuff.

I'd let it go.

crank_addict

Been though it. I was pissed at the police much as the thief.

davester

Here's what I did. My daughter's house had been broken into and her bike (formerly my wife's bike) and a computer was stolen. About six months later I met my wife for dinner at a restaurant. She said "hey, that looks like my bike locked up in front of the restaurant". I went out and sure enough it was the stolen bike. I called the cops, who already had the police report and serial number. The officer parked in a hidden spot across the street and told me that I was free to retrieve the bike if I wanted, hoping to entice the thief to intervene. I sent my wife home to get my Sawzall with carbide blade and with a great deal of noise and sparks cut the lock off. Unfortunately the thief didn't show, but we did get the bike back. So, the answer is that I would put myself as bait at slight risk of an altercation as long as police were standing by. I also got the stolen computer back, but that was a different story.

peter_d

I'd like to think that I'd react responsibly but I can certainly understand the frustration of those who may choose not to. Bike theft is so common here that there has to be some organization. My thought is that stolen bikes are probably stockpiled then trucked from one city to another where they're less likely to be recognized. All the while the local police maintain that the crime rate has dropped when in fact the opposite is true but the police are so uninterested and ineffective that people have just given up reporting property theft.