Posted on 05/15/2022 3:49:28 PM PDT by algore
My grown kids limited edition ebike was stolen last week, this is the second one.
He reported it to the local pd with pics and serial receipt etc.
We found the bike listed on offerup in another city bout 30 miles away.
Kid called the cops there in the other city and talked to prop crimes detective who said looks like your bike, but there is no record of it being stolen.
Kid calls local pd and they said, oh sorry we didnt have enough info.. we can fix that.
And they did.
He called the prop crimes detective back and he is like sorry we are pretty busy..
Any suggestions on how to proceed?
cameras everywhere nowadays
Call a local news station. They usually have kind of consumer advocate reporter that would probably light a match under the police.
My ebike was stolen last week. Took them about 10 seconds to get through the lock & load it onto their truck. I didn’t even bother to report it to the police, they are not all that interested in doing their jobs.
Visit a local hells angels club and pay the 500 bucks to go pay the seller a visit. It will be money well spent.
Get a vibrator engraver and egrave your drivers license number on the frame out of sight.
Does he use a bike lock?
Just wait til your stuff shows up at a pawn shop. You have zero recourse. None. They know who sold it to them, but they’ll never give it up.
You expect cops to earn their pay?
“go visit the bike with a Marine friend.”
And guess who goes to jail.
In Washington state if you have filed a police report the pawn shop is required to relinquish the item. A friends e-bike was stolen from the bike rack on his RV, and he didn’t file a police report. I chanced upon it in a pawn shop a month or so later. Since no police report was filed I couldn’t claim the bike, even though the owner was convinced the bike was stolen, after I pointed out certain identifiers. He did let me buy the bike for a much reduced price, probably about what the thieving POS got for it.
You have a 75 Gallon Fish Tank??
Holey-Moley! You must be a serious aquarium owner.
You have my respect. That’s got to take up an entire wall of your home. I’ll bet it’s quite satisfying to look at when in full use. Muti Water Pumps too, I suppose. That’s big enough for a few young Catfish.
Meanwhile, I’m struggling with my 10 Gallon tank, looking for the right underwater plants for Goldfish.
Had a friend who lived in a sketchy part of town when he was first married and they were always fighting prostitutes, drug dealers in the front of the house. If it was especially bad, he’d call 911 and when he got the brush off, he’d tell them that he had a gun and would deal with it. Cops would show up then.
There’s ways of dealing with it.
I WOULD DO IT.I DO NOT TAKE CRAP.
And that is why I say Attorney. You do not want to go the illegal way. If cops are not helping what recourse? You get an attorney.
You pay taxes and the cops will not help so you have to go another route.
Other than that he is screwed.
Honestly if your kid had an ebike he should have put it inside a garage or house to keep it safe from robbers.
Yep you can file a civil case against them for the item lost because they would not investigate. :
Here is an article:https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/what-if-the-police-wont-investigate-my-case/
Somebody smashed your car windows. Somebody stole your bike. Somebody mugged you in a dark alley after a night at the bar. Somebody assaulted you while you were drunk.
When you go to the police, they refuse to investigate your case. There are lots of reasons police won’t pursue a case. Maybe the value of your loss is too little. Maybe after an initial look, there is just no evidence to warrant further work. Or bottom line, maybe the police think an investigation just isn’t worth their very limited time and money.
Regardless of the reason given, what can you do if the police refuse to investigate your case?
1. Go Up the Food Chain
Police do not have a legal duty to investigate all reported crimes. However, this doesn’t mean you’re helpless if the police won’t investigate the crime against you.
If repeated calls and reports to the police department don’t encourage any action, go up the food chain. Contact the local District Attorney’s office. Most DA’s offices have their own investigation team, and may investigate and pursue charges independent of the police.
If that doesn’t work, contact the mayor’s office. While the mayor’s office probably won’t have the resources to investigate crimes itself, the mayor’s office may be able to put pressure on the police to investigate if enough citizens complain.
2. Contact the Press
Another way to put pressure on the police is to go to the media. Most media channels have tip lines where you can try to get coverage for your issue. Enough bad press may motivate the police department to re-think their decision.
3. Utilize Social Media
Police often turn to social media to get help from the community to identify suspects. You should too. Leverage your circle of friends and their circle of friends to either put pressure on the police to investigate or to give the investigation something to go on by identifying possible witnesses, evidence, and suspects.
4. Hire an Investigator
Take matters into your own hands. I don’t mean putting on a trench coat and investigating yourself or marching out to get justice by hurting the person you think hurt you. Instead, hire a licensed private investigator to do the job for you. Private investigators, like police, are trained for the job. You aren’t.
5. Sue in Civil Court
If you can’t get justice from the criminal system, turn to civil courts. Most crimes such as battery or theft have civil law counterparts. If you are lucky enough to know who the perpetrator is, and the police won’t arrest him or the DA’s office won’t press charges, you may be able to sue for damages in civil court.
Contact an experienced litigation attorney for help suing for damages.
Most likely bolt cutters (https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2016/05/18/former-thief-interviewed-bike-stealing-actually-work) or increasingly a cutting wheel and angle grinder
I got 12mm cable locks (Lumintrail Bike Cable Lock, Self Coiling 12mm Braided Steel Cable Resettable Combination Cable Lock with Included Mounting Bracket - 2-Pack) under $20 for two) for the kids but that is mainly just for school.. It seems that there is no lock that a experienced thief cannot quickly cut, and that the idea is to make it hard for them, while GPS tracking is highly recommended.
What Should You Do If You See Someone Using The Bike That Was Stolen From You
Contents
What to do when you see your stolen bike?
Is it worth reporting a stolen bike?
Should you confront someone who stole from you?
How much money do you have to steal to go to jail?
Where do police sell stolen goods?
How can I make my bike less attractive to thieves?
Is a stolen bike covered by home insurance?
Do bike thieves pick locks?
Which bikes get stolen the most?
What is the punishment for stealing a bike?
What are the chances of getting a stolen bike back?
What do thieves do with stolen bikes?
Do bikes have serial numbers on them?
How do you prove a stolen bike is yours?
What to tell someone who stole from you?
How do you forgive someone who stole from you?
Why do people steal bikes?
Do thieves feel guilty?
The psychology is that police get plenty of guff and angry complaints from the public. In my experience, a simple, plainly and succinctly stated request for help and advice to the police can engage and activate their otherwise senescent desire to serve the public.
Or, file a law suit for theft. Depending on the value of the ebike, it may be possible to do it yourself in small claims court. The ebike is unlikely to be returned, but you may get a money judgement that will cause enough trouble to eventually get paid.
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