7 ms·

In early high school, we'd ride bikes to the local coffee shop, lean them against the big windows out front and hangout. Somehow, no one noticed when mine was s

by windows2020 5y ago

In early high school, we'd ride bikes to the local coffee shop, lean them against the big windows out front and hangout. Somehow, no one noticed when mine was snatched one evening. I was pretty devastated. My grandfather drove me around the town the next day to see if I could spot it. When we were about to give up, I noticed a bike leaning along side a house near the shop. I could see it from the street. It looked exactly like mine. It had the same replacement seat and even a curly bike lock coiled around the handlebars on the same side I left it. But it had been hastily spray pained. We called the police, they arrived and a kid inside noticed the commotion and came out. They had found the bike at the shop and took it. I went to inspect it. I was very surprised when I found the small yard behind the house was packed with around fifty bikes. To the cop, I said something like, "there's tons of bikes back here!" I then remembered another friend had theirs stolen as well. He didn't look for himself, and said I couldn't just take the bike. There was no proof it was mine. So, I said, "what if I can unlock the bike lock?" I could and was allowed to take it, but it had been ruined. My prized shiny bike had been banged up and spray painted. The following week my mother read me a letter that had arrived. The town would not be prosecuting the kid. I was confused. I did nothing wrong and stayed out of trouble myself. Did their actions not warrant any consequences? My mother ended up going to the police department and insisting the town prosecute, which they ended up doing. I'm not sure what happened. Did the consequences dissuade them from stealing a 51st bike? Their family had failed them, would their community? If not for religion, what hope did they have?

tomcam 5y ago
If your mom is still around, please thank her for me. Seriously, that was an amazing thing she did.
theturtletalks 5y ago
Had my bike stolen twice out of my garage and the first thing I did was file a police report with the color and brand. Write down your serial number if you have a bike and so you can provide that as well. I knew the police would not really look for a bike so I scoured Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. Eventually I found the bike both times. I messaged the person to meet up, called the police, and provided my report number and the listing. The police met up the people and got my bike back twice. What happened to the thieves that stole my bike twice and broke my expensive locks? Absolutely nothing. When I asked the cop why they weren't cited or charged, he said they were fences. Guess if you're a fence, you can get away with selling stolen goods because you can claim you thought you bought the item legitimately. I'm sure those fences were selling other people's bikes as well, but cops didn't do anything. The deterrence for small crimes is slowly falling as thieves are realizing that the cops are not punishing thieves even after catching them red-handed.
itronitron 5y ago
That house was probably already well known to the town cops and they didn't want to deal with the hassle.
cortesoft 5y ago
> The town would not be prosecuting the kid. I was confused. I did nothing wrong and stayed out of trouble myself. Did their actions not warrant any consequences? I feel like there is an unpleasant reality that people either don’t realize or don’t want to accept… there is simply not enough resources to go after every petty criminal with prosecution. Honestly, I am not even sure it would be a good idea even if we had the resources… should we spend thousands on a prosecution over a $50 crime? Will that actually reduce crime enough to make it worthwhile? Criminal prosecution works as a deterrent by being something that CAN happen for minor crimes, but doesn’t always… the chance they could be prosecuted hopefully deters most would be criminals, and only prosecuting a few saves money and is more efficient.
- gjs278 5y ago
  yes we should. I don’t even like bikes and im glad they get stolen but people who steal bikes should be tossed in a cell and beaten by hardened criminals so they stop doing it
- Talanes 5y ago
  The example wasn't even a $50 crime though, it was 50 $50 crimes. At some point they have to add up to be worthwhile.
warning26 5y ago
I don't understand the opposition for the death penalty in cases like this. The person was clearly guilty, and a serial offender. Removing this individual from society creates the maximum good for all.
YZF 5y ago
My bicycle was stolen when I was a kid and we saw the thief ride away. My father gave chase in his car and eventually came back with the bicycle. I was pretty impressed... Thanks for reminding me of that. Generally I've always ridden bikes that are so cheap/crappy looking that thiefs never bothered me. I used to just leave them unlocked all over the place and never had a problem (though none of these places and times were like any of today's hot spots). Now motorcycles getting stolen is yet another story.

tomcam 5y ago

If your mom is still around, please thank her for me. Seriously, that was an amazing thing she did.

theturtletalks 5y ago

Had my bike stolen twice out of my garage and the first thing I did was file a police report with the color and brand. Write down your serial number if you have a bike and so you can provide that as well. I knew the police would not really look for a bike so I scoured Craigslist, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. Eventually I found the bike both times. I messaged the person to meet up, called the police, and provided my report number and the listing. The police met up the people and got my bike back twice. What happened to the thieves that stole my bike twice and broke my expensive locks? Absolutely nothing. When I asked the cop why they weren't cited or charged, he said they were fences. Guess if you're a fence, you can get away with selling stolen goods because you can claim you thought you bought the item legitimately. I'm sure those fences were selling other people's bikes as well, but cops didn't do anything. The deterrence for small crimes is slowly falling as thieves are realizing that the cops are not punishing thieves even after catching them red-handed.

itronitron 5y ago

That house was probably already well known to the town cops and they didn't want to deal with the hassle.

cortesoft 5y ago

> The town would not be prosecuting the kid. I was confused. I did nothing wrong and stayed out of trouble myself. Did their actions not warrant any consequences? I feel like there is an unpleasant reality that people either don’t realize or don’t want to accept… there is simply not enough resources to go after every petty criminal with prosecution. Honestly, I am not even sure it would be a good idea even if we had the resources… should we spend thousands on a prosecution over a $50 crime? Will that actually reduce crime enough to make it worthwhile? Criminal prosecution works as a deterrent by being something that CAN happen for minor crimes, but doesn’t always… the chance they could be prosecuted hopefully deters most would be criminals, and only prosecuting a few saves money and is more efficient.

gjs278 5y ago
yes we should. I don’t even like bikes and im glad they get stolen but people who steal bikes should be tossed in a cell and beaten by hardened criminals so they stop doing it
Talanes 5y ago
The example wasn't even a $50 crime though, it was 50 $50 crimes. At some point they have to add up to be worthwhile.

warning26 5y ago

I don't understand the opposition for the death penalty in cases like this. The person was clearly guilty, and a serial offender. Removing this individual from society creates the maximum good for all.

YZF 5y ago

My bicycle was stolen when I was a kid and we saw the thief ride away. My father gave chase in his car and eventually came back with the bicycle. I was pretty impressed... Thanks for reminding me of that. Generally I've always ridden bikes that are so cheap/crappy looking that thiefs never bothered me. I used to just leave them unlocked all over the place and never had a problem (though none of these places and times were like any of today's hot spots). Now motorcycles getting stolen is yet another story.