Stolen Bike Recovery!

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

Unfrigginbelievable! Now how will we celebrate this first in stolen bike recovery?

-JM

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 23:55:01 -0700, John Morgan did issue forth:

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

Blimey!

Congratulations, Sir. Here's hoping the two of you are very happy now that you are together again.

Huw "Had my bike nicked once. [censored]." Pritchard

John Morgan <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people

understood.

Quoted message said:

They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
employees promised to call me

if

Quoted message said:

the kid brought the bike in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called

the

Quoted message said:

police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where

they

Quoted message said:

were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a

long

Quoted message said:

waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the

genuine

Quoted message said:

owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra

Nevada.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
purdy, find new decals for it, and

convert

Quoted message said:

it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho

money

Quoted message said:

into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a

new

Quoted message said:

chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

Nice one! Why'd the [censored] not get charged then?!?!?!?!

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06>...

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people understood. They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that
they would do anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the
goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call me if the kid brought the bike
in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called the police
and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where they were stalling the kid by
offering free services for the bike. After a long waiting period and much discussion, the it was
decided that I am the genuine owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice
and purdy, find new decals for it, and convert it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the
Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
money into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get
some spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a new chain and brake cables are in order
as well.

-John Morgan

That's a wonderful end to the story! It's just to bad the idiot didn't get cited, and to bad you
didn't get a chance to take a good crack at him yourself!

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people

understood.

Quoted message said:

They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
employees promised to call me

if

Quoted message said:

the kid brought the bike in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called

the

Quoted message said:

police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where

they

Quoted message said:

were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a

long

Quoted message said:

waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the

genuine

Quoted message said:

owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra

Nevada.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
purdy, find new decals for it, and

convert

Quoted message said:

it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho

money

Quoted message said:

into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a

new

Quoted message said:

chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

*sigh*

You were lucky...

When my first 'proper' bike (Klein pulse comp) got stolen 2 years ago, I never saw her again 🙁 my
pride and joy probably got sold for smack by some dickless motherfck. I cried more for the loss of
that bike than the death of my grandmother.

My mate's ride almost got stolen the other day, while he was on it no less. This fcking townie came
up to him asking how much it was. my mate ignored him and then the little [censored] tried to take it
from under him. He got away ok unfortunately not having the time to beat the living [censored] out of said
wannabe thief.

People who steal bikes deserve death.

Small Black (feeling strongly about bike theft) Dog

SBD says:

Quoted message said:

*sigh*

You were lucky...

No [censored]! My first road bike, a nice chrome-plated Carlton, was nicked from the office in Willesden
(NW London). This caused no end of problems as it was my transport at the time. The next day, I
walked down to the LBS nearby to see if they'd keep an eye out (they had seen the bike a few times
before) and ther, in the window of the shop, was my baby. Complete with a little sign saying "Is
this yours, Steve?" The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known locally,
and tried to sell it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn. Bad move...

Steve

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people

understood.

Quoted message said:

They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
employees promised to call me

if

Quoted message said:

the kid brought the bike in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called

the

Quoted message said:

police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where

they

Quoted message said:

were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a

long

Quoted message said:

waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the

genuine

Quoted message said:

owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra

Nevada.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
purdy, find new decals for it, and

convert

Quoted message said:

it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho

money

Quoted message said:

into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a

new

Quoted message said:

chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

So how you liking that wide ass seat?

Stephen Baker <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

SBD says:

Quoted message said:

*sigh*

You were lucky...

No [censored]! My first road bike, a nice chrome-plated Carlton, was nicked

from the

Quoted message said:

office in Willesden (NW London). This caused no end of problems as it was

my

Quoted message said:

transport at the time. The next day, I walked down to the LBS nearby to

see if

Quoted message said:

they'd keep an eye out (they had seen the bike a few times before) and

ther, in

Quoted message said:

the window of the shop, was my baby. Complete with a little sign saying

"Is

Quoted message said:

this yours, Steve?" The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known

locally,

Quoted message said:

and tried to sell it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn.

Bad

Quoted message said:

move...

Steve

Hell fire! Nice one ',;~}~

Shaun aRe

John Morgan said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

That is so excellent.

Quoted message said:

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

Maybe you'll see him around town when you just happen to be carrying a tire iron. 😉

gabrielle

Stephen Baker said:

The kid had nicked it, assumed that a commuter bike wouldn't be known locally, and tried to sell
it, complete with the bar-mounted compressed air horn. Bad move...

So did they kick his ass or what?

Some numbskull stole one of Mr Gabrielle's custom kayaks (a squirt boat, if any of you are boaters
and remember those) and then was dumb enough to take it out to the local surf spot. Oopsie.

gabrielle

Quoted message said:

Nice one! Why'd the [censored] not get charged then?!?!?!?!

I guess the cops couldn't prove he was the actual thief. It's been 16 months, it could have changed
hands a few times by now. He stuck to his story "I found it in an alley." Being the forgiving person
that I am, I let it go at that. I was just grateful to get back what's mine.

-John Morgan

Quoted message said:

So how you liking that wide ass seat?

LOL! Funny you should mention that. The thief's called his dad when I said the cops were on the way.
After the issue was resolved, the father told me that my original seat and my Time pedals were at
his house. And he wanted to swap out the wide seat and cruiser-bike pedals for my original gear.
Score! Seeing as how they were so cooperative with this, I doubt they had anything to do with the
theft. I'm going over there in a few minutes to pick up my stuff.

-John Morgan

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people understood. They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that
they would do anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the
goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call me if the kid brought the bike
in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called the police
and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where they were stalling the kid by
offering free services for the bike. After a long waiting period and much discussion, the it was
decided that I am the genuine owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada.
Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice
and purdy, find new decals for it, and convert it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the
Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho
money into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get
some spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a new chain and brake cables are in order
as well.

-John Morgan

That soooo kicks ass!!!! Right-on!

--
Slacker - once recovered my stolen wetsuit in a similar manner

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:dnhNa.88087$%42.57544@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

So how you liking that wide ass seat?

LOL! Funny you should mention that. The thief's called his dad when I

said

Quoted message said:

the cops were on the way. After the issue was resolved, the father told

me

Quoted message said:

that my original seat and my Time pedals were at his house. And he wanted to swap out the wide
seat and cruiser-bike pedals for my original gear. Score! Seeing as how they were so cooperative
with this, I doubt they had anything to do with the theft. I'm going over there in a few minutes
to pick up my stuff.

-John Morgan

What was his story? Did he claim to have bought it from someone else? How old was this kid? I
dunno... I would think a kid like that, running a wide seat and cruiser pedals would have gone for
the Murra or Huffy type....

I wasn't there but I am a tad suspicious.

Any how congrats! Wish I could get mine back...

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in my stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy street. After a failed
foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike shop (not more than 30 yards from where I
spotted him). These people

understood.

Quoted message said:

They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would do anything to catch the
thief and have their bikes returned safely. So, out of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop
employees promised to call me

if

Quoted message said:

the kid brought the bike in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I called

the

Quoted message said:

police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop, where

they

Quoted message said:

were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a

long

Quoted message said:

waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the

genuine

Quoted message said:

owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra

Nevada.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the components are now
severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down tonight, I'm going to clean it up nice and
purdy, find new decals for it, and

convert

Quoted message said:

it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace this geared XC bike). This
seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho

money

Quoted message said:

into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner and I'll have to get some
spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed... a

new

Quoted message said:

chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

Lucky basard. Very cool, I never though that would happen in a million years! Glad your
baby is back!

Jon Bond

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:SmhNa.88086$%42.3323@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Nice one! Why'd the [censored] not get charged then?!?!?!?!

I guess the cops couldn't prove he was the actual thief. It's been 16 months, it could have
changed hands a few times by now. He stuck to his story "I found it in an alley." Being the
forgiving person that I am, I

let

Quoted message said:

it go at that. I was just grateful to get back what's mine.

-John Morgan

Thats soooo shady.. I woulda whooped his ass. I am glad you are kinder than I, as is the kid
I am sure.

I would made sure he never stole again, little f***er...

But again, grats to you man.

You should be only so lucky to see him again. May you be able to run him over with 2 wheels and
could sing under my wheels.

Fire up MTB 03

Quoted message said:

Keep your eyes on those bikes as you pass them by, folks.

Hey man... it was so weird, because I was thinking about your situation at around 3PM when I was out
on the trail. I thought about how I'd be able to get it back if I spotted it. I wondered if you
could have gone through the neighborhood you saw the thief in and just sorta snooped around for it.
I thought to myself, "would i call the cops or just pick it up and go, given that it was unlocked?"

Then I come back to the comp and see this. Very happy for ya and I hope it's a redeeming feeling!

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

Good to hear your happy ending 🙂 here's hopng that my Giant Warp 1 will make it back home safely🙂
I miss my ride🙁 rode it so much that I was going to put in my 3rd BB. I seem to destroy them in 8
months. Here's hoping the little *ucker dies horribly.

There's no telling what would have been left of him if I had cought him...

CS

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"John Morgan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:%t9Na.88053$%42.71689@fed1read06...

Quoted message said:

Ladies and gentlemen, the odds were against me yet I have prevailed! Sixteen months after the
theft of my sweetheart, she is safely back in

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stable.

The setup: I spotted the bike a week ago under a kid riding it along a busy

street.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

After a failed foot chase, I inquired about him at the nearest bike

shop

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

(not more than 30 yards from where I spotted him). These people

understood.

Quoted message said:

They have had bikes stolen from them before, and knew that they would

do

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

anything to catch the thief and have their bikes returned safely. So,

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of the goodness of their hearts, the bike shop employees promised to call

me

Quoted message said:

if

Quoted message said:

the kid brought the bike in for service again.

The showdown: Today I got that call. My heart raced and my mind was awhirl. I

called

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the

Quoted message said:

police and explained the situation. We all met at the bike shop,

where

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

they

Quoted message said:

were stalling the kid by offering free services for the bike. After a

long

Quoted message said:

waiting period and much discussion, the it was decided that I am the

genuine

Quoted message said:

owner of the bike.

The reward: I have my bike back and the bike mechanics have a 12 pack of Sierra

Nevada.

Quoted message said:

Unfortunately, the thief got nothing. No citations were issued.

The plan: The bike was pretty much the same way I remember it, except the

components

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are now severely worn from poor maintenance. I stripped it down

tonight,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm going to clean it up nice and purdy, find new decals for it, and

convert

Quoted message said:

it to a singlespeed. (Since I already have the Homegrown to replace

this

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

geared XC bike). This seems a lot more reasonable than pouring mucho

money

Quoted message said:

into it for new parts. I think it's $40 for the Spot chain tensioner

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll have to get some spacers and a bash ring to convert to 1 speed...

a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

new

Quoted message said:

chain and brake cables are in order as well.

-John Morgan

Lucky basard. Very cool, I never though that would happen in a million years! Glad your baby
is back!

Jon Bond

Lucky [censored], too.

Jon "Tpyo" Bond