The Chainlink

Stolen Bike Registry - do this when your bike gets stolen

"With all the stolen bike posts lately (and no one thinking "I wonder if there's something under Useful Links for this."), I think it's well past time to make a sticky about the Stolen Bike Registry"

 - Tank-Ridin' Ryan

 

Well said Ryan.

 

 

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/

 

Done and done.

 

And sticky too.

 

 

Cheers - Lee Diamond

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Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on April 25, 2012 at 9:50am

I'm going to second this. 

I see bikes often that are very likely stolen but I have no way to prove it and the bike goes back out the door.

Comrade Cycles said:

Sorry to get off the sticker topic, but I just wanted to remind everyone of the importance of posting to this site if you're bike is stolen. Today we recovered and returned a second stolen bike in the two months we've been open. Today's had been gone for two years. That's a lotta 2's. Sorry. Anyhow, neither would have been possible without being able to track them through the registry. Not all bikes get recovered, but you have a much higher chance if you give people on the lookout a way to ID it.

Also, and I can't stess it enough, record you serial numbers.

Permalink Reply by Tim S on April 25, 2012 at 10:00am

So Comrade and nDUG,

What does the customer that brought you the hot merchandise say when you inform them that you found out that the bike they brought to you was stolen? I imagine most purchased in good faith through CL or S-o-R (a hotbed for so much illegal) and may take issue with "their" bike being withheld. Absolutely not suggesting you stop for I would be forever grateful if you were to recover a ride of mine, just curious...

Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on April 25, 2012 at 11:35am

Sometimes they just bug out other times there is a very, very awkward conversation.

The times I have recovered bike the person who has bought it got the kind of price on it that caused them to suspect it was stolen.

Permalink Reply by Julie Hochstadter on April 25, 2012 at 11:54am

Here is a good bike shop recovery story and good way to think on your feet if the opportunity is ripe (like, I can't change a flat tire).  Bike was stolen 3 houses from mine.  

Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on April 25, 2012 at 12:26pm

You can also browse recovery stories here:

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/search/node/recovered

Although there seems to be an odd trend of late of people not letting us know when their bikes are recovered. Still don't know which listing Comerade's recovery pertains to.

Permalink Reply by Liz on April 25, 2012 at 1:41pm

that's not too bad, does anyone have any opinions or ideas on sticker design?  

Is what I came up with ok, or is there something else people would like to see? 

h' said:

The above sticker would probably run something like $350 for 2000. 

Permalink Reply by chuck kurdin on May 2, 2012 at 8:22pm

Great initiative!



Peter Muller said:

Hey everyone,

I just started a Chicago stolen bikes Twitter feed. We need to get bicyclists to follow the feed so that in the event a bike is stolen, the word can get out ASAP to everyone and eyes can be immediately peeled.

follow "chistolenbikes" or just tweet @chistolenbikes

Finally, a useful purpose for Twitter!
Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on May 15, 2012 at 12:28am

So, another recovery story today thanks to keen eyes and community-mindedness at Comrade Cycles (Chicago/Damen):

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/190609

And I finally got around to asking for details to pin down the recovery from April 24:

http://chicago.stolenbike.org/node/184536

Note the date of theft on both of these.

Next time you pass the shop, give it a hug for me.



h' said:

Ah, another piece of the puzzle. The victim's wife sent an e-mail earlier wanting to make a donation without much other info besides the 2-year figure. Awaiting further details. We generally wouldn't name a bike shop that assisted in a recovery unless they specifically requested to be named.

Thanks for your role in that one, CC!

Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on May 15, 2012 at 2:01pm

I want to make the point here that those recovery stories at Comrade could not have happened if people had not put their bikes on the registry.



The lest week or so I have seen several bikes that I would bet cash money were stolen and none of them were on the registry.

Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on May 15, 2012 at 2:06pm

Do people still want to pursue this? I'll volunteer time and money to make it happen as well.



Liz said:

that's not too bad, does anyone have any opinions or ideas on sticker design?  

Is what I came up with ok, or is there something else people would like to see? 

h' said:

The above sticker would probably run something like $350 for 2000. 

Permalink Reply by Kevin C on May 15, 2012 at 2:22pm

I will also contribute time and money.

Cameron Puetz said:

Do people still want to pursue this? I'll volunteer time and money to make it happen as well.



Liz said:

that's not too bad, does anyone have any opinions or ideas on sticker design?  

Is what I came up with ok, or is there something else people would like to see? 

h' said:

The above sticker would probably run something like $350 for 2000. 

Permalink Reply by Liz on May 15, 2012 at 3:35pm

I sent an email to those who have expressed interest in going in on the sticker.  If anyone else is interested let me know. 

Thanks! 

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