Stolen Kona Major One

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jack on April 8, 2010 at 12:13pm

I don't know if reimbursing the purchaser would have been the right thing to do. It was stated that he knew he purchased a stolen bike. Buying stolen property doesn't give you full ownership rights. If he wants his money back, he should go back to the seller. If he was truely out the $250, he would have probably willingly gone to the police department to straighten out the mess. I would have if I thought I bought a legit used bike and someone comes up to take it from me out of the blue claiming it was theirs.

He knew it was hot, probably paid a lot less than $250, and didn't have any desire to head to the police station. A fool and his money... It sounds harsh, but when people buy "hot" bikes, they are rewarding the people who stole it. He could've bought a bike from a shop for $250 and had a legit bike. Maybe next time he won't support the crime.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Couldn't you use the insurance money to reimburse the purchaser? seems like the right thing to do...

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Permalink Reply by Matt Roben on April 8, 2010 at 12:17pm

A friend of mine had success with using google alerts for her stolen bike- in THIS particular case it would not have helped, but about a month after HER bike went missing it showed up on craigslist and she was emailed through the google alert- went to the cops with all her documents and sure enough they got her bike back from a guy with a garage filled with bikes who said he got it from his girlfriends friend who was moving to Washington- I am sure all of the others were legally acquired by him of course.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on April 8, 2010 at 12:21pm

You're probably right.


Jack said:

I don't know if reimbursing the purchaser would have been the right thing to do. It was stated that he knew he purchased a stolen bike. Buying stolen property doesn't give you full ownership rights. If he wants his money back, he should go back to the seller. If he was truely out the $250, he would have probably willingly gone to the police department to straighten out the mess. I would have if I thought I bought a legit used bike and someone comes up to take it from me out of the blue claiming it was theirs.

He knew it was hot, probably paid a lot less than $250, and didn't have any desire to head to the police station. A fool and his money... It sounds harsh, but when people buy "hot" bikes, they are rewarding the people who stole it. He could've bought a bike from a shop for $250 and had a legit bike. Maybe next time he won't support the crime.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Couldn't you use the insurance money to reimburse the purchaser? seems like the right thing to do...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 8, 2010 at 4:24pm

This is a very good tip, thanks.

Matt Roben said:

A friend of mine had success with using google alerts for her stolen bike- in THIS particular case it would not have helped, but about a month after HER bike went missing it showed up on craigslist and she was emailed through the google alert- went to the cops with all her documents and sure enough they got her bike back from a guy with a garage filled with bikes who said he got it from his girlfriends friend who was moving to Washington- I am sure all of the others were legally acquired by him of course.

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Permalink Reply by RigWheels on April 9, 2010 at 10:11am

Here's my two cents. If a deal is too good to be true, it is. No one would sell an $1100.00 bike, practically new for $250.00. If you see it on craigslist, at a swap and you can't believe your luck to have found such a gem for such a steal, then it is most likely just that, stolen. My advice to anyone who buys outside of legit shops, or even pawn shops, is to pay attention to how you feel. That queasy feeling in your stomach as you shell over $25 for my recently lifted brooks saddle and post from some guy in a back alley is the guilt you feel from supporting thieves.

This one is tricky, I am glad Joe got his bike back. There are some particulars that I am not going in to, however this worked out Joe has his bike back. The purchaser has been hit by buying stolen merch and lost. The only winner here is the thief, but no one steals endlessly without repercussions. The best thing you can do is get pissed and shout about it when someone takes something from you. Then we all know what spots to avoid, the police/city get a clear idea of when and where this is happening. More folks can be on the lookout for you gear, and someone might buy you a beer, probably Dan Brown. In that same vein, please report when you get hit. If you don't speak up we can't help each other.

I feel kind of silly for posting on a forum, but I am knowingly allowing you all to rip this apart and go into hyper critical mode. Bring it. Bottom line is it sucks getting shit stolen, don't buy anything if the deal is just too good to be true, good people/bad people no one deserves to have their ride lifted, there is no hierarchy of loss; a stolen bike is a stolen bike. Bailey is a great friend and it never hurts to have folks watch your back. As for the call to violence, sure it was a joke. That is not always understood so watch what you say in public. In this case, I know Bailey well and he would not hurt a fly. The only time he ever gets in a scuffle is when he fights hard with the pavement and loses.

Enjoy your riding and never let the fear of theft stop you from enjoying what it means to be on a bicycle. If you do, someone has stolen a lot more than your material possessions.

End of Diatribe.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on April 9, 2010 at 3:15pm

I am not going to rip this apart...this is a sensible well-thought out post to a subject that always
brings out of spectrum of emotions and responses.

The fact of the matter is..for many (most ?) of us here; a "bike" is not just a "bike".

it is a part of us; an extension of our entire being.

many of our bikes are _not_ commodities (i.e. homogeneous products that can be easily replaced); rather, they are often long term projects that have had countless hours, dollars, blood sweat and tears poured into. Not to mentions the sentimental value that they hold. for example - imagine riding a bike
down LSD (or to work) that has placed in a race; or ridden along side elite cyclists / triathletes, etc.
That can never be replaced.

When the bikes are stolen and then and re-sold; it is a form of personal violation. There are no right nor
wrong responses.

I am thankful for a forum where we can all share our personal views, support each other; and when
appropriate - agree to disagree.




Dan


RigWheels said:

Here's my two cents. If a deal is too good to be true, it is. No one would sell an $1100.00 bike, practically new for $250.00. If you see it on craigslist, at a swap and you can't believe your luck to have found such a gem for such a steal, then it is most likely just that, stolen. My advice to anyone who buys outside of legit shops, or even pawn shops, is to pay attention to how you feel. That queasy feeling in your stomach as you shell over $25 for my recently lifted brooks saddle and post from some guy in a back alley is the guilt you feel from supporting thieves.

This one is tricky, I am glad Joe got his bike back. There are some particulars that I am not going in to, however this worked out Joe has his bike back. The purchaser has been hit by buying stolen merch and lost. The only winner here is the thief, but no one steals endlessly without repercussions. The best thing you can do is get pissed and shout about it when someone takes something from you. Then we all know what spots to avoid, the police/city get a clear idea of when and where this is happening. More folks can be on the lookout for you gear, and someone might buy you a beer, probably Dan Brown. In that same vein, please report when you get hit. If you don't speak up we can't help each other.

I feel kind of silly for posting on a forum, but I am knowingly allowing you all to rip this apart and go into hyper critical mode. Bring it. Bottom line is it sucks getting shit stolen, don't buy anything if the deal is just too good to be true, good people/bad people no one deserves to have their ride lifted, there is no hierarchy of loss; a stolen bike is a stolen bike. Bailey is a great friend and it never hurts to have folks watch your back. As for the call to violence, sure it was a joke. That is not always understood so watch what you say in public. In this case, I know Bailey well and he would not hurt a fly. The only time he ever gets in a scuffle is when he fights hard with the pavement and loses.

Enjoy your riding and never let the fear of theft stop you from enjoying what it means to be on a bicycle. If you do, someone has stolen a lot more than your material possessions.

End of Diatribe.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michelle Green on April 10, 2010 at 2:47pm

<3


dan brown said:

I am not going to rip this apart...this is a sensible well-thought out post to a subject that always
brings out of spectrum of emotions and responses.

The fact of the matter is..for many (most ?) of us here; a "bike" is not just a "bike".

it is a part of us; an extension of our entire being.

many of our bikes are _not_ commodities (i.e. homogeneous products that can be easily replaced); rather, they are often long term projects that have had countless hours, dollars, blood sweat and tears poured into. Not to mentions the sentimental value that they hold. for example - imagine riding a bike
down LSD (or to work) that has placed in a race; or ridden along side elite cyclists / triathletes, etc.
That can never be replaced.

When the bikes are stolen and then and re-sold; it is a form of personal violation. There are no right nor
wrong responses.

I am thankful for a forum where we can all share our personal views, support each other; and when
appropriate - agree to disagree.




Dan


RigWheels said:

Here's my two cents. If a deal is too good to be true, it is. No one would sell an $1100.00 bike, practically new for $250.00. If you see it on craigslist, at a swap and you can't believe your luck to have found such a gem for such a steal, then it is most likely just that, stolen. My advice to anyone who buys outside of legit shops, or even pawn shops, is to pay attention to how you feel. That queasy feeling in your stomach as you shell over $25 for my recently lifted brooks saddle and post from some guy in a back alley is the guilt you feel from supporting thieves.

This one is tricky, I am glad Joe got his bike back. There are some particulars that I am not going in to, however this worked out Joe has his bike back. The purchaser has been hit by buying stolen merch and lost. The only winner here is the thief, but no one steals endlessly without repercussions. The best thing you can do is get pissed and shout about it when someone takes something from you. Then we all know what spots to avoid, the police/city get a clear idea of when and where this is happening. More folks can be on the lookout for you gear, and someone might buy you a beer, probably Dan Brown. In that same vein, please report when you get hit. If you don't speak up we can't help each other.

I feel kind of silly for posting on a forum, but I am knowingly allowing you all to rip this apart and go into hyper critical mode. Bring it. Bottom line is it sucks getting shit stolen, don't buy anything if the deal is just too good to be true, good people/bad people no one deserves to have their ride lifted, there is no hierarchy of loss; a stolen bike is a stolen bike. Bailey is a great friend and it never hurts to have folks watch your back. As for the call to violence, sure it was a joke. That is not always understood so watch what you say in public. In this case, I know Bailey well and he would not hurt a fly. The only time he ever gets in a scuffle is when he fights hard with the pavement and loses.

Enjoy your riding and never let the fear of theft stop you from enjoying what it means to be on a bicycle. If you do, someone has stolen a lot more than your material possessions.

End of Diatribe.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on April 10, 2010 at 4:26pm

I feel kind of silly for posting on a forum, but I am knowingly allowing you all to rip this apart and go into hyper critical mode

Can you explain what about this post you think would get ripped apart?

I think there was some willful and some inadvertent misunderstanding and mis-framing of the initial reactions in this thread, the worst of it being the suggestion that anyone who's posted to it was anything but dismayed and frustrated to hear of the theft/loss.

It seems like the folks complaining about the drama are those most interested in perpetuating it.

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