Bike theft witnessed
Thread started by
cabhauler at 03.13.09 - 1:01 am
I witnessed a bike theft in front of Two Boots Pizza on Sunset in Echo Park right next to the Echo.
They were closing for the night and their metal gate was already down, so you had to use a side door to get out. I saw bolt cutters and thought, "WTF" then like five seconds later it was gone. A woman motorcycle rider eating next to me burst out the side door but he was already on his way.
The stolen bike appeared to be a fixed-gear conversion, the thief a mid- to late- 30s Latino man with a mustache. He just rode the bike down Sunset and had bolt cutters on him, pretty brazen.
The stolen bike was locked together with another bike, a silver Trek SU100. Since that bike was now unlocked, we got someone from the Echo to come over and take it inside the building.
I'm really frustrated. Out of like 15 people including the security guard at the Echo, nobody was able to do shit. Only me and the motorcycle even knew what was up. These dudes eating next to us were like, "Oh it's probably his bike!" Can you believe that?
So, are we over using fucking cable locks already? The whole thing happened in under 10 seconds. It's always shitty to lose a bike but better it be this than some really nice bike.
Fuck, going to bed, adrenaline still rushing from riding home.
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Thanks for the heads up.
I was driving down Sunset today and thinking about those guys who sell the bikes off the side of the road around the 7-11 stretch of Sunset, from a van. I was thinking...prob mostly stolen bikes or maybe just crappy ones.
What do you think?
agnyxtsy03.13.09 - 1:08 am
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"guys who sell the bikes off the side of the road around the 7-11 stretch of Sunset, from a van"
WTF? This is a good tip, guys.
Was it a white van?
Joe Borfo03.13.09 - 1:10 am
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I see a lot of that when I pass through South Central, there's always people selling really nice bikes for a 'discounted-price'...
...It's more than likely that they are stolen.
godmode03.13.09 - 1:14 am
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Whatever happened to the sting operation?
Roadblock03.13.09 - 1:14 am
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Plenty of people have been arrested for bike theft these recent months, but it's still an issue that looms. It's not keeping people from running around with bolt-cutters and taking shit that doesn't belong to them.
godmode03.13.09 - 1:17 am
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Well, let's not speculate too much on who's a thief and what not. Just be careful and don't think that people are gonna be watching your shit for you.
I was watching and I still couldn't do anything and it was as frustrating as hell.
It goes without saying that you should all be locking up with a u-lock through the rear wheel inside the rear triangle just like Sheldon Brown and using a cable for your wheels. Some of my friends with really nice wheels have been using two u-locks.
cabhauler03.13.09 - 1:24 am
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I hate having to carry 2 U-locks :(
godmode03.13.09 - 1:25 am
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Sting ops have been discussed multiple times here.
Most people take it off list to make it undercover.
However, these things never end up taking place. I assume because people realize there's not much we can really do about this and the cops don't give a damn anyways.
I'd help with one if the objective was to scare and humiliate these guys, otherwise I just don't see it as a solution.
Joe Borfo03.13.09 - 1:26 am
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"guys who sell the bikes off the side of the road around the 7-11 stretch of Sunset, from a van"
Have you stopped and check out the bikes and talk to the people selling them? I would. That is a golden opportunity. You could buy one or a couple and get to know the person, especially if they are nice bicycles for a cheap price then you know something is foul. You could find out who the person is, where they are getting them from and then even request a certain bike or wheels.
Then for the sting op. It all about doing it. Not talking about.. Whoever is involved in it, never talk about it again if you take matters into your own hands. Who knows it might have happened already a few times. I hope so. I hope whoever was involved never tells about it.
I'm never in the Echo Park/Silverlake area anymore. Do businesses not allow you to bring your bikes into establishments? Are the businesses areas too small to have your bike inside?
Think about this, Talk about it with your trusted friends.
Maybe form some affinity groups. Direct action gets the goods.
(oohhh god, i sound like I've been reading slingshot- after a WTO rally)
sexy03.13.09 - 3:01 am
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the good thing about this is that now I know they have a two boots in LA.
I haven't been to one of those since I would jetset out to NY in the 90's.
(now I sound like Ridinghood)
sexy03.13.09 - 3:04 am
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i've stopped by those vans before, about 6 months ago. there are 2 of them, and i can't remember if either was white. none of the bikes that were on display at that time were really nice, nor were the prices cheap, but rather standard. it's hard to say if the bikes were stolen or not. the guy also told me that he was out there on a regular schedule (and presumably elsewhere in the city on other days) it doesn't seem that a thief would operate that way. if the bikes are stolen then maybe they are coming from far away? just thought i'd let you know what i remember.
cassidy03.13.09 - 10:57 am
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We should make small flyers and attach them to bikes with cable locks. "You invite thieves when you use a cable lock....use a U-Lock! Or you will end up crying"
skd03.13.09 - 11:05 am
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hopefully their bike isnt stolen between the time that you place the flyer on their bike and they come and see it.
ruinedbyidiots03.13.09 - 11:17 am
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between the thefts, tagging and fights, i'm just as frustrated as cabhauler........
one more time..........hehe
Eric Hair03.13.09 - 11:26 am
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User1, you still looking for a rigid mountain bike?
Eric Hair03.13.09 - 11:37 am
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One more thing, I didn't get a good look at the stolen bike but it looks like some kind of conversion and it had a white stem, something you don't see too often.
cabhauler03.13.09 - 11:52 am
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i have my replacement mtb eric.
User103.13.09 - 11:54 am
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Whenever I roll up to the bank, there's always two guards permanently posted out front in chairs.
They know me and I know them, that and they pack heat as well, so no chance of it getting taken from there unless it gets held up.
bentstrider03.13.09 - 1:16 pm
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the two vans on sunset have been discussed on this forum before. i myself wondered and stopped 1 day to talk to them. what cassidy said, the bikes are not spectacular and not cheap- pretty standard. i even asked about one for my friend, and the dude said he was still working on getting it in working order. they're actually pretty nice people, who set up in the same place, along a high traffic bike lane.
with all this said, these guys are probably not stealing bikes.
sciencefriction03.13.09 - 1:35 pm
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If the guys are there week in week out, they give you their contact info, or tell you where they live, chances are the bike isn't stolen.
User103.13.09 - 1:46 pm
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PICTURES OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!
No, I'm just saying we need to start taking pictures of these fools. I know it's not the first thing that comes to our mind but it's a great deterrant if we can put a face on the thieves. Next time I see some kid walking or riding his bike with ONE front wheel in his hand on Sunset I'm going to take a picture- dammit! If he's innocent we'll teach him how to change a tube if in fact he's walking to the bike shop to repair a tire.
neverclever03.13.09 - 1:54 pm
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