A whole lot of bikes are going missing in Montclair. A reader writes…
My husband’s bicycle was recently stolen off our front porch on Montague Place in Montclair. It is a brown Schwinn, vintage style that says Coffee in big letters on it. Just thought I’d let you guys know as the police mentioned that there has been an increase in bicycle/porch thefts lately. We are pretty bummed about the bike as it had all the baby seat attachment stuff on it.
Another bike, worth $800, was stolen from a porch on Brookfield Road; two other bike thefts were reported in this police blotter. One was stolen at Bay Street Parking Deck; the other disappeared from the area of Yale Terrace/North Fullerton after a kid let another kid take a ride on it. (The old “let me ride your bike” only to have it disappear happened to my husband’s brother some 30 years ago — amazing how it still happens.)
Moral of the story: lock up your bikes and tell the kiddies to be careful when lending.
Liz, not to cast any aspersions at all, but have you checked under the porch?
No bikes here.
Well, then, the only other possible culprit is the Mayor. Check under his porch.
My facebook status yesterday was “So I’m taking pictures for my series on bikes, and some lady starts yelling at me because “if you take pictures of the bikes the criminals will know where to find them and steal them – I’m calling the police” My response – “okay, I’ll wait”
@johnlee wait to take the pictures or wait for the police?
@conan I think the Mayor’s garage should be checked as well
for the police of course
johnlee, RE: number of bike thefts:
WHY WON’T THE COUNCIL SHOW US THE NUMBERS????
@cro did you OPRA it with the police department? Betch you get the numbers.
Cro, go to Fried’s house and count the number of stolen bikes yourself.
LMAO ! (cro you are brilliant!)
Here are some of the photos that have cause a ruckus :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnleesandiego/sets/72157627263984010/show/
(there are no black, wild, or old bikes in the photos, uh oh!)
nice pics john
I DID file an OPRA request.
Steadman turned it down.
However, I was able to uncover a photo from Fried’s basement:
http://monado.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/20080725_d14_bike_seizure_display_2.jpg
Just a little wealth redistribution. The free market doing its thing.
Right on!\
Nothing is freer than the “free market”!
my favourite of the collection is “Montclair Beach Cruiser” (the cruiser in the snow)
A good friend of mine lives on Brookfield Rd. and had a bike stolen from right outside his house. It was an expensive road bike and was snatched during an extremely brief period of time when it was unattended.
Maybe there’s a bike thief that’s cruising that neighborhood in a van/suv and can jump out, toss a bike in the back and cruise off within 20 – 30 seconds.
Pretty crummy thing to do to another person. In the olden days, bike thiefs could get their necks stretched some.
Now they get elected mayor. (Has he been convicted yet?)
Bike was parked by side door after a long ride. Walked around back to check on tomatoes. Gazed a few minutes. Walked back. Bike gone. Yikes. Jumped in car and drove around but no sign. Sheesh. I don’t leave (new) bike untended anymore, and keep it inside basement. Avoid putting bikes in unlocked garages. If you do, at least lock the bike to the wall or a post.
Fried’s election poster:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/eu/2/20/Ladri3.jpg
The mayor’s been let out on bail (paid for by securitizing parking tickets). “The jail time was good for me. Made me realize Bloomfield Avenue should be a ski slope.”
@cro : I called OPRAH to get the numbers and even she can’t get them
@johnlee if you had OPRA’d OPRAH you would have gotten the numbers.
Galaxyman, I had a bike stolen out of a locked garage. They kicked in a side door and took the bike. Someone suggested a second deterrent. If you have a quick release, remove the front tire. This eliminates the spur of the moment thieves who are looking for a ride home.
if we can microchip our dogs and cats, is it possible to microchip bikes? enforcement would be a challenge but it might deter some crime, or at least get abandoned bikes back to their owners after the joy ride is over
is everyone new? if you have been reading this blog for at least a year you would remember last summer all the stolen bike posts. plus if you are so delusional and stupid to just leave your bike unlocked…. you can fill in the rest.
@johnlee In 2001, Steve Wozniak co-founded Wheels of Zeus (WoZ), to create wireless GPS technology to “help everyday people find everyday things.”
oh dear, idea has already been tried and found to be impracticle
http://news.cnet.com/2100-1047_3-6050677.html
Here’s another way RFID
RFID Toys: Cool Projects for Home, Office and Entertainment
http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Toys-Projects-Entertainment-ExtremeTech/dp/0471771961
Good luck, tell us how the experiment goes.