Stolen Bikes

April 2008 (Earth Day) I had a bicycle stolen from me because I lent it to someone to “take it for a spin.” You can read all about my lack of better judgement here.
Well I learned a lot from that experience and was fortunate to get my bike back with the help of a group of really amazing, dedicated members of our bicycle community.
Because of my tale, I wanted to add a page to this blog which may be used as a resource for those to report bicycle thefts in the hopes of preventing them and getting OUR BIKES BACK.

Here is a really good posting from everyone’s favorite cycle cynic Bikesnobnyc, about how to not feel like a victim and cope with bike theft.

I’ve also started a google map to keep track of stolen bikes in NYC:

View Bike Theft 2011 in a larger map
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We are starting off with a new year, 2011. So here are the first reports of stolen bikes (organized by date of theft)

⇒1/15/2011

Orange Nashbar Mountain Bike
Stolen around 7:00pm 2011
In front of Old Navy on 503 Broadway (between Spring and Broome St.)

Info from this Craigslist.org posting:

“My Bike was stolen in front of the Old Navy, on Broadway, in SoHo
503 Broadway, between Spring and Broome streets, in NYC

This is an Orange mountain bike with no stickers on it, except a Reynolds 853 sticker, above the bottom bracket.
it has a thudbuster seat shock, and a hobsons proX2 bike seat. (it looks like 2 small loaves of bread). Red cruiser handlebars. two goofy bells. on handlebars. an “I heart my bike”, and an american flag bell. neither work.

Had bike chained to a building stand pipe, with chain going through rear wheel and frame post of bike. I double checked the lock before going in to store.
they might have been able to wedge the chain over stand pipe. or cut it there.

Date Stolen: Saturday night 7:30pm / 01-15-11
if you see it, call me, Peter Shapiro
917-324-3108

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⇒3/4/2011

From Paul,
Stolen 3/4/11

A Tommaso gold Digger

“58cm, Ugly red riser bars, doo dads in the spokes, white Bontrager seat with yellow tape on the front of the seat. Black frame.
The bike was stolen around 3:30pm in front of 55 West 13th St.
Paul says he locked the bike with a crappy cable lock which was cut.

He is currently reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of catching the thief.

If you see this bike on the street or on line, please contact Paul, rudysdogwalk@gmail.com

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⇒4/17/2011

Cannondale Adventure Hybrid

(stock photo)

“My mint condition women’s 2007 21 speed Cannondale Adventure Hybrid was jacked outside of Bierkraft around 5pm yesterday on 5th Avenue at Sacket (Park Slope, Brooklyn) It has a small white bike light, clear plastic bubble horn, clear with blue lettering Tony’s Bike Shop, Milford, CT water bottle, cable lock holder on stem and bike patch kit under rear seat. It’s a silvery gray.

Any leads to creep who swiped it within 10 minutes of me parking it within my site – reward is offered! I had only a cable lock, but was keeping it parked within my sight. The ten minutes it took the bar keep to pour my beer with my back turned was all it took. Everyone on the street swore they saw nothing! Must be pros….

Tina Magnuson
Any info, contact: tinamagnuson@mac.com
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“My name is Jim Pfeifer and I had my bike stolen on Monday March 28th from my school in Harlem. This sucks. I rode it to school with all intentions of going for a ride after I finished my morning exam. I tried to get the Gothamist to publish the story, but they weren’t interested (I’m not too surprised). Anyway, I’m reaching out to anyone I can to help get my bike back. I’ve included some pics – of the bike and the thief.

Here is what I wrote Gothamist:

Hi John, (Gothamist)

I’ve seen that you post a lot of bicycling related stories on Gothamist and I love it. Unfortunately, my beloved bicycle, a 2010 Focus Cayo which I purchased just before I finished my first semester of medical school was stolen on Monday, the 28th of March. It was stolen from the 3rd floor bike room of school with “security” at both entrances. I have every reason to believe someone on the inside assisted with this crime. I guess I’m naive to think that people should respect one another’s property.

Please feel free to call the 28th Precinct Detective Squad to light a fire under their asses: (212) 678-1608 (Detective Heidi Carnevali) (heidi.iazzetti@nypd.org) – pre-divorce name.

If you want to know my background, I’m 32 year-old Naval Academy grad and was a Naval Flight Officer during the Gulf War 2. I study medicine in Harlem so I can practice family medicine for undeserved communities. Yeah, that sounds kind of sappy when I write it, but I don’t care. Right now, I’m too pissed about my bike being stolen to care about much else. Please help me out in way you can.

Thanks

Jim Pfeifer
(757) 897-8028 cell
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If you have any information about these bikes or want to send me information about stolen bicycles, please email me at mgreen@bikeblognyc.com

There is a new revised website created to help with stolen bikes in NYC:

bikewatchnyc.
also on twitter: @bikewatchnyc

This is an excellent social network resource.

One way of registering a bike is:
www.nationalbikeregistry.com

from their site:
Register your bike in the National Bike Registry. We will send you a Certificate of Registration and a tamper-resistant NBR label to identify your bike. Then, if your bike is ever stolen and recovered, no matter where, it can be returned to you.
or call: 1-800-848-BIKE

Also the bike shop, Brooklyn Bike and Board has a stolen bike registry. Please post here.