I wonder if they have any cameras around there....
2013-11-01 13:49:25
46
STOLEN Masi Cyclocross bike; 1 month old :-(
Hey guys,
I'm new to this site, but I wanted to pass on the word of my bike that was stolen the other night from Oakland. One month ago, I bought a maroon 2013 Masi CX comp cyclocross bike from Iron City Bikes in Oakland to prepare to start commuting to work at Presby. The other night while working night shift (7p-7a), I parked my bike outside the O'hara garage (directly across from Benedum Hall on Pitt's campus). This seemed like a good place to park it because there are always several bikes parked there and it's directly in front of large glass windows where a guard sits inside the garage. Unfortunately, my cable chain wasn't good enough to deter someone from stealing my bike even though I always lock it through the frame and front tire. When I was done with my night shift I returned to the bike rack where I found my entire bike was gone. The guard proceeded to tell me that no one is on duty from midnight to early morning so it would have been a good time to steal a bike. I have a picture attached and also want to let you know that it now has a dark blue Brooks saddle on it but everything else is stock. This is RARE bike and there can't be many of them in Pittsburgh. Iron City Bikes is one of the only Masi dealers in Pittsburgh. Please be on the look out guys! Thanks for any help or advice you can give me.
2013-11-01 12:26:38
Sorry to hear of your loss.
I'll keep my eyes open.
Good luck!
2013-11-01 14:15:41
i wish all bike shops would stop selling cable locks to people unless they knew for sure it was only going to be used to supplement the primary u-lock by locking wheels/accessories to the frame.
2013-11-01 14:24:07
Bike like this posted for sale on Craigslist on Monday November 3rd. PM sent to OP.
2013-11-05 10:21:01
Ok, obviously I meant Monday, November 4th!
2013-11-05 10:43:42
Asshole wants $900 for it.
On second thought, I could be wrong, but I don't think it's the same bike. The rear wheel reflector is at a different position. I could imagine changing details like the seat but I don't think I'd take the wheel reflectors off and move them a couple of spokes over.
On second thought, I could be wrong, but I don't think it's the same bike. The rear wheel reflector is at a different position. I could imagine changing details like the seat but I don't think I'd take the wheel reflectors off and move them a couple of spokes over. 2013-11-05 10:56:47
White saddle, not dark blue.
If you did not record a frame serial number, hopefully Iron City recorded that? Check with them and get that before pursuing this or any other leads.
2013-11-05 11:19:07
@Jon, zooming in it looks like the position of the reflector is the same. Of course they may all be the same from the factory too (machine built wheels?).
I hope the cops help the OP check into this.
2013-11-05 11:25:44
@marko, it's over one spoke. You can see more detail on CL. It's obviously worth checking, though.
Everyone, if you haven't written down the serial number on the bottom bracket, do so now!
2013-11-05 11:29:00
Looks like the same reflector to spoke placement to me... The only distinguishable difference is a swapped out saddle and post.
2013-11-05 11:48:45
2013-11-05 12:10:05
I simply wanted to point out the coincidence. Might not be the same bike. Probably is not. But timing seemed right, and the OP referred to it as a "rare" bike.
If Iron City is one of the few shops to carry the MASI, they should have some idea of how many "almost brand new" MASI cyclocross bikes are out there.....a dozen or two at most?
2013-11-05 12:19:01
jonawebb wrote:You're right... but, Look again, he did move the reflector. It isn't even in the same place in all of the photos on cl.
2013-11-05 12:49:01
The Craigslist photo is taken from the drive side; the Bike-PGH from the non-drive side; thusly, the alignment of the reflector in the pics doesn't mean much. I'd say this is very much worth investigating.
2013-11-05 12:52:16
I think it's the stolen bike... I mean, how many people make comments like this in a CL ad for a bike?
" I'd be interested in trading for other bikes, or laptops, or silver/gold coins."
He's asking for retail value but is willing to trade for anything of value to get this bike out of his hands.
2013-11-05 12:54:27
It could well be the same bike; it's easy to determine that once you get access to it. Swapping the seat and seat post out strikes me as suspicious, too. Because if you're trying to get the full retail value of your basically new bike, why change the seat for a crappy old one? My only point is, don't assume it's the same bike.
2013-11-05 13:26:31
Hey guys... sorry to keep you all discussing for the past few hours. I haven't had access to my laptop. I wanted to let you all know that I spent the day with the University of Pitt police yesterday. I provided them with my evidence and they were able to trace the CL posting back to the person who listed it. He is a pitt student and the police were able to access surveillance cams. Ended by the detectives finding 4 stolen bikes in his dorm room, one was my Masi. The bike shop and myself were able to identify/prove that it was mine. The bike is now back in my possession. Unfortunately, I lost my brooks saddle that he swapped and put on another bike.
2013-11-05 14:11:11
Yay! Congratulations, @kealco!
2013-11-05 14:16:19
reflector asside (I have no idea who moved it over a spoke), take a look at the picture of my bike on the left from a month ago and the one on clist. if you see the rear quick release is silver, and the front has the stock black one on. performance bike had to put this aftermarket one on because my stock quick release was defective 2013-11-05 14:17:32
This makes me smile.
...and bike thief caught too! Woo hoo!
I was thoroughly enjoying the Sherlocking everyone was doing too!
2013-11-05 14:26:06
So glad you got your bike back! (And hopefully thos three other people too). That Masi CX is a great ride.
2013-11-05 14:29:55
A Pitt student? OMG. What an asshat.
I bet his parents are going to be so proud.
2013-11-05 14:40:03
Ted wrote:So glad you got your bike back! (And hopefully thos three other people too). That Masi CX is a great ride.Thank you. The other bikes are under investigation to find owners.
2013-11-05 14:42:10
kealco wrote:Ended by the detectives finding 4 stolen bikes in his dorm room, one was my Masi.Happy ending... I doubt that guy will be stealing any more bikes in the near future. Glad you got your bike back, AND prevented so many more from getting stolen by this jerk. I wonder what else he managed to grab?
2013-11-05 14:43:30
RustyRed wrote:I was thoroughly enjoying the Sherlocking everyone was doing too!Heck yeah! Go team bikepgh!
2013-11-05 14:44:47
Drewbacca wrote:by the way guys, I learned my lesson hard; NEVER use a cable lock as the way to secure your bike. All the bikes in possession were accompanied by cut cable locks. Already got myself a U lock. I'm thinking about getting one of those thick link chains too; any ideas on where to get a good one?kealco wrote:Ended by the detectives finding 4 stolen bikes in his dorm room, one was my Masi.Happy ending… I doubt that guy will be stealing any more bikes in the near future. Glad you got your bike back, AND prevented so many more from getting stolen by this jerk. I wonder what else he managed to grab?
2013-11-05 14:47:57
Congratulations!
Huh. Unless the three other bikes are low-value, said student asshat may have managed to get himself nabbed for a felony...IIRC, PA grades theft as a third-degree felony if the value of the stolen goods is greater than $2000.
2013-11-05 14:48:14
reddan wrote:Congratulations! Huh. Unless the three other bikes are low-value, said student asshat may have managed to get himself nabbed for a felony…IIRC, PA grades theft as a third-degree felony if the value of the stolen goods is greater than $2000.might not be hard to reach 2,000 because my bike was worth $1,000 paid a month prior, plus $129 brooks saddle + cable lock. the three other bikes weren't cheap bikes either, I would assume.
2013-11-05 14:51:01
Woo Hoo! That's the second recovered stolen bike in the past 4 days!
(And there are 3 more to be returned, based on what you said about the police having found 4.....)
Great job, guys!
And, I have to say, I was enjoying the Sherlocking too! But I like celebrating the success of recovering the bike more!
2013-11-05 15:04:44
When people steal bikes they make stupid changes like that with the assumption that people will be like "Oh! That's clearly not my bike!"
When I recovered my stolen Trek SU200 (another rare bike, only seen one other in Pittsburgh) they took the fenders off and my bells, but left an OldManMountain Rack on (also rare)
Glad the Pitt police actually did something.
2013-11-05 15:30:39
kealco wrote:Already got myself a U lock. I’m thinking about getting one of those thick link chains too; any ideas on where to get a good one?:p A bikeshop? No clue, you'd have to call around. Probably overkill, for Pgh, unless your bike will be doing a lot more all-nighters, in which case, definitely go crazy with the locking. If you are going back to the same place, you can probably get away with leaving a chain or a u-lock at the rack.
2013-11-05 15:49:41
A good chain? If Iron City helped you recover by providing the police with info, might I suggest tossing a couple more bucks their way? I think I've seen Onguard chains in there.
Congrats on the recovery!
2013-11-05 15:58:31
J Z wrote:A good chain? If Iron City helped you recover by providing the police with info, might I suggest tossing a couple more bucks their way? I think I’ve seen Onguard chains in there. Congrats on the recovery!I already threw a few more bucks there way... a couple days ago before my stolen bike was posted to clist, I went and bought a brand new Masi and u lock from them. I'm thinking about putting another chain lock on it too incase someone tries busting the u lock.
2013-11-05 16:01:59
So glad you got your bike back! Yay!
2013-11-05 16:10:25
"This seemed like a good place to park it because there are always several bikes parked there and it’s directly in front of large glass windows where a guard sits inside the garage."
I seem to recall several people's bikes/bike components being stolen from exactly that area with exactly the same thinking
On a slightly related note, I wonder if the kid got in trouble for bringing the bikes into his dorm, because at least up to a couple of years ago, employees weren't allowed to bring their bikes inside campus buildings
"I already threw a few more bucks there way… a couple days ago before my stolen bike was posted to clist, I went and bought a brand new Masi"
Were there's a disincentive for not selling cable locks Colin :P
2013-11-05 16:14:47
kealco wrote:I’m thinking about putting another chain lock on it too incase someone tries busting the u lock.It's a pretty determined and brazen thief who can defeat a U lock. And if they have the tool to do this (I won't say the tool's name but it rhymes with "bangle finder") then they can also defeat a chain lock. If you're worried about defeating a sophisticated thief you have to think about locking your bike indoors. Which might be hard at Pitt.
2013-11-05 16:17:40
Glad that bike is recovered!
2013-11-05 16:26:52
this is also a good lesson in why students should get renter's insurance.
2013-11-05 16:52:32
Now that's what I call a "happy ending".
FWIW when I parked at Pitt all day long I always took off the front wheel, put it beside the back wheel, and locked up both wheels and the frame with a single U-lock. It was a PITA but I never got anything stolen. If I had it to do over I might buy a second U-lock or a chain but honestly I'm not sure that thought ever occurred to me.
Eventually I got a job in LRDC where the boss let us bring our bikes into the office. It was against Pitt policy but we never got busted for it. Although, one night while riding bikes around the office, some dumbass (me) locked up their rear wheel and made a big black streak on the carpet. Luckily, we had carpet tiles so we were able to distribute parts of the skid mark around the office to make it less obvious. Good times.
2013-11-05 18:22:24
Happy to hear you got your bike back!!
I had a bike stolen (and returned)...so I know the pain and joy from loss and getting it back!
2013-11-05 20:17:55
I wish bike stores would display a selection of cut cable locks, with a sign "This is why we don't sell cable locks. Buy a u-lock." I bet they'd make more money too.
Glad to hear you got your bike back.
2013-11-05 20:23:01
Happy!!!
Besides Iron City love, I would buy somebody some doughnuts!
2013-11-05 21:07:25
salty wrote:Now that’s what I call a “happy ending”. FWIW when I parked at Pitt all day long I always took off the front wheel, put it beside the back wheel, and locked up both wheels and the frame with a single U-lock. It was a PITA but I never got anything stolen. If I had it to do over I might buy a second U-lock or a chain but honestly I’m not sure that thought ever occurred to me.I dunno, seemed too much of a PITA to me to do the front wheel off method. I like locking skewers, bigger pain w/ flats, but payoff in daily lockup with one U.
2013-11-05 22:19:03
Wow - this is amazing. Hope the thief gets expelled. Wonder if they found laptops in his room, too?
2013-11-06 00:42:26
Glad to hear you got your bike back! I used to lock up on the staple racks just a block away on the same side of the street, there is a driveway across from Benedum. I had been doing this for 7-8 yrs on and off, 3-5 days a week using a U-Lock and cable. Never had any issues, but this summer decided to ignore the University signs and started bringing my bike inside and locking it up on a loading dock. It sucks that this crap is being perpetuated by students, that is some kind of education!
2013-11-06 09:16:28