BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

First off,

Sorry to hear about your bike, good thing is it should be easy to spot.

Secondly,

Wow that is one cool bike.

Is that one of those bikes that sounds loike 15 million angry hornets?

If so, there is a possibility that someone stole it simply to silence it.

Mick It did sound a little hornety, but not too bad, I was working on that. I'd rather they silence the motor than wreck the bike.

Thanks dbacklover for the compliment.

Do you guys recommend any other places to post?

Hmmmm. I suppose that sounded a bit harsh. Sorry.

On the other hand, there was a guy who stopped off across the street from me a few times with one that is qutie loud. Once I listened when he took off down Parkview, then Swinburn. I could hear him stop at Greenfield Ave - 2/3 of a mile away and on the other side of the parkway - then travel a bit more before he started to fade out.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=3415+Parkview+Ave,+Pittsburgh,+PA+15213&daddr=Frazier+St+and+Greenfield+Ave,+Pittsburgh,+PA&hl=en&geocode=FWP8aAId5wU8-ykVAV5Rj_E0iDFujxIrkGFLbQ%3BFcTYaAId5g88-ynLUt4mkfE0iDEML67fomX_qg&mra=ls&sll=40.425291,-79.948626&sspn=0.005554,0.008776&ie=UTF8&ll=40.430616,-79.951801&spn=0.011107,0.017552&z=15

I could occasionally hear him travel between parts of Greenfield. I'm not exaggerating.

I have no doubt that his neighbors would attempt to make that machine disappear. Guaranteed non-recovery.

If your bike was significantly quieter than a six-pack of lawnmowers, this might not have been the issue, though.

Make sure you tell the police. Check out craigs list.

You might try

http://www.nevertellmetheodds.org/

They tend not to be as nice as me, though. (Also not an exaggeration)

Thanks Mick, cool I'm up on both craigs and nevertellmetheodds. Now I'll just wait and see what happens. Thanks for the help guys.

So some guy is riding it around lawrenceville. He was spotted at 41st and Butler. If anyone sees him please call the police, do not confront him.

My buddy caught him outside of new amsterdam last night around 1am, called the cops, who promptly let him go because he didn't have the name of the owner.

I told him that there was a report filed but they didn't give a shit. Perhaps just breaking his face instead of calling the cops would be more prudent.

Sorry dude, gl

Guys, Thanks so much for trying! That was so cool. I called and confirmed that the cops were there, but didn't call it in. The zone 5 guys said that I should give out the ccr#: 10-228760 and that would give the cops better info.

Was the guy a customer at New Amsterdam, or just hanging outside?

Thanks you again

Dave M

Ok, can anybody imagine somebody stopping a thief in a stolen car, which was reported stolen, but the cops letting it go because the stopper didn't have the owner's name? Let's pretend the cops didn't have the ability to associate VIN/registration/title. Seems to me they could have made the tiniest effort, asked for the thief's identification, something.

Hopefully he doesn't just ditch it somewhere nobody will find it and steal something else.

Yeah I hope that wasn't the last time he'll be out, I hope the police looked at his identification or something. This guy is bold.

Spak Brothers are kings by the way!

Funny thing was, my friend was there last night and invited me out to New Amsterdam.

I'm driving around, wish I could get a pic of this guy. The police station on the phone said to "tell the police to call it in if you catch him again". I'm know they have more important things to attend to but man, that could have been the last chance. It was soo close.

Yeah, I was actually in Bloomfield at the time so all I know is what was texted to me and one phone call from my informant. I will update if I learn more about the specifics

We need to form an old school posse on bikes that just hunts down stolen bikes.

Just saw this bike on my commute home. I had only seen the title of the post, not the pictures, but the pictures have confirmed by belief that it was the same bike! Spotted on Liberty and Pearl. Wasting no time and going out on a hunt!!!! Will call the police as well.

Be careful Jane... although you know what, I'm bored, maybe I'll head on over to Lawrenceville myself, extra lock in hand, and try to ensnare this bike...

Yeah, I'm headed home from work in about 20 min. I'll go via Bloomfield and see what I see.

Rode all around Bloomfield and didn't see shit. Sorry

Rode all around Bloomfield for a while and didn't find the guy. I will keep my eye out for the bike now that I officially know what it looks like!!! I wish I was sure of it when I first saw it. I just didn't want to accuse someone of theft if I wasn't sure (although I think I would have been to afraid to actually approach the guy, but stalking him could have gotten me into trouble as well!)

Like I said, I'll keep looking. We're going to get this bike back to you, tacomancini.

Rode down liberty and didn't see anything, but didn't go poking around.

Guys, Thanks all so much for the help! The officer that responded to the New Amsterdam call talked to me last night. He called me around 3am to setup a time to meet this evening. I think he's still trying to get the story straight, but things are looking up. I have to figure out who you all are so I can thank you personally. I'll let you know what happens.

I know this is way late, but I saw a guy in the strip on Friday at about 4pm with a motorized bike, but I'm thinking it was a black frame. He looked kinda suspicious, like he was hiding from someone or something. Which is why I didn't get a good look at the bike. I could definitely identify the guy, but it might be the wrong dude/bike.

Anybody have a description of the guy at New Amsterdam they can share? So far, we have "male".

@taco: No problem. If you see me out and about, you'll surely recognize me by my gravatar.

Lyle... maybe you are joking... but your gravitar shows up as an empty white square when I look. I apologize if I just killed the joke. I have a great deal of trouble with sarcasm, computers just make it worse.

This thread is actually really exciting - I'm totally pumped every time I see someone post, hoping to read some successfull vigilanty retrieval. I wish I could partake in the search, and I hope it's recovered before I heal enough to help look!

Yeah, I have trouble with sarcasm too. Maybe there's a 12 step program for it.

Lyle I'm easy to spot. I'll buy you a beer, I look like Hagrid from Harry potter basically.

Scott, Thanks for looking out, the black cruiser bike is a guy I know I think there are maybe four guys with motors. Your beer is great!

Unfortunately the guy didn't really show up for a hand off tonight. The officer told me if anyone sees him riding the bike please call 911 and give them this info: ccr#: 10-228760 and my phone 412.576.4177

Thanks

Dave M

ah i have totally seen YOU on this bike, which i admire on the regular at penn n graham. will keep my eyes peeled! will lock it up with my lock if i see it anywhere!

ps i love the whole way the seat is attached!!!

I think we may have ridden by this guy during the movie filming today. Right in front of the new Children's Hospital, on Penn Avenue near 45th Street.

We need to form an old school posse on bikes that just hunts down stolen bikes.

Let's do it. I've already got one bike in protective custody. Flock of Cycles: SBU (Stolen Bikes Unit)

Personally, I prefer the protective custody approach (assuming you can find the bike when it is not moving) to the "approach and confront" strategy. I would HATE to see a well intentioned cyclist get hurt in an altercation over a "potentially" stolen bike.

Ian

I saw that guy - not the same bike.

Guys, Thank you all so much for your help. The bike was returned late last night by the officer that was at the scene at New Amsterdam. I feel extremely lucky. You are great people!

Awesome!

@tacomancini - I wasn't very helpful (what with my cynicism about motor noise and all), so I can't really speak for the guys who helped get your bike back.

OTOH, I don't think anyone would mind if you gave some cash to Bike Pittsburgh (maybe become a member if you are not already one)

Congrats! And thanks to all the cyclists and associated others that were actively involved in searching and/or getting the word out about this theft. Without you, this recovery might never have happened. Thanks too, to the Pgh Police Department (Zone 5) who took a real interest/responded in this particular case.

Zone 5 and Zone 2 both were extremely helpful. Officer Reed went out of his way to help me, he walked the bike all the way up to Penn avenue to meet me.

Mick, You had smart suggestions and you are right on about Bike Pittsburgh. I'm not a member and haven't donated to date, and thats a wrong I'll right.

I'm indebted for all the help guys! I know this represents a bigger thing going on, that you are all such a wonderful community of people. It's a bigger thing than even getting the bike back.

Now *that's* a happy ending. I'm so glad you got your bike back, and glad you'll be sticking around!

Way to go crew! I know the first thing i'm doing if (knock on wood) a bike of mine ever gets stolen...btw, that bike is SICK!