Stolen Ebike Recovered! Big Thanks to Mike at ElectricRider

[jsmay311]

Kind of a long story, but my Dad's ebike (which I had built for him and given to him for his birthday earlier this year) was stolen while locked up at a train station a couple weeks ago. I found it for sale on Craigslist later that day (for probably only 10% of what it's actually worth) and tried to arrange to just buy it from the thief (while also involving the local police to hopefully bust the guy), but unfortunately he had already sold it to someone else.

However, in the Craigslist ad for the bike the thief included a link to Electricrider.com for where a prospective buyer could order a battery charger for the bike. (The battery case has "Crystalyte" on the side of it, and electricrider.com is the 2nd hit you get when you Google "Crystalyte", so I presume that's how it ended up in the Craigslist ad.) So I sent an email to electricrider.com explaining the situation and asking if they could keep an eye out for anyone from the Chicago area asking about battery chargers for "Crystalyte" battery pack on a bike that met my Dad's bike's description.

Sure enough, Mike at electricrider.com replied that he had, in fact, been contacted by the person that bought my Dad's stolen ebike. After a few more emails to verify that it was the same bike, Mike got us in touch with the buyer and we arranged to buy it back from him for what he paid for it. (And, like I said, it was sold for way less than it was worth.) And so now it's back with its rightful owner.

Anyway... I hope this post doesn't go against any forum rules about promoting a particular ebike company, but I think it is a well-deserved shout-out. Thanks again, Mike!

P.S., my Dad went out a bought a better lock, so hopefully this won't happen again.

 

[Rassy]

And I hope the rest of the story is about how the police caught the thief that had sold the bike to the "good" guy. Thief should at least have to return the money to you plus get slapped.

 

[The fingers]

What a blessing, that rarely happens.

 

[john7700]

One for the good guys! Now follow up and bust the scummer. Don't let him get away with it

 

[jsmay311]

And I hope the rest of the story is about how the police caught the thief that had sold the bike to the "good" guy. Thief should at least have to return the money to you plus get slapped.

Preliminary word is that the local police think they caught the same guy in the act of stealing another bike earlier this week. IDK about getting any money out of him, but if they can successfully pin the theft of my Dad's ebike on him, he could be seeing a minimum 1 year in jail. (The cutoff between misdemeanor and felony theft is $500 and carries a minimum 1 year sentence, and the ebike in question is worth well more than that.) Fingers crossed.

Now is the time to move out of Chicago...

Isn't this forum supposed to be about ebikes?

Anyway, we're actually in the picturesque suburbs, plenty far away from The City. And the handgun ban within Chicago city limits ended 2 years ago. And Chicago's actually a really nice city for the most part. And it was rated the 5th most bike-friendly city in the US this year by Bicycling Magazine. But thanks for the helpful and informative post anyway.

 

[The fingers]

Bike friendly city- an oxymoron IMHO.

 

[Chalo]

Bike friendly city- an oxymoron IMHO.

Has your humble opinion ever been to Amsterdam or Copenhagen?

 

[ebent]

I'm glad the thief was or will be caught. The penalty will never be enough. A public beating by whip on the courthouse steps. That would be a good and deserving deterent. Glad the bike is back. I can't imagine leaving my ride at a train station. If it was not stolen I bet the bling would be gone. Good luck.

 

[Gregory]

What a good news story. And Well done electric rider too.

Can all the other OT posts please move to other toxic discussions, thanks.

 

[Miles]

Can all the other OT posts please move to other toxic discussions, thanks.

http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=42612

 

[dogman dan]

Pretty savvy to take your own steps to get it back. If the cops actually do bust him, it's a cherry on top. Maybe if you post a message to him on the bike, he won't steal it again? Or send him a message.

 

[jsmay311]

Update: The local police put out a press release this morning announcing the arrest of the guy they believe stole my dad's bike, plus another separate guy, both caught in the act of stealing bikes last week.

The guy who stole my dad's bike was caught cutting a lock with bolt cutters in the same place where my dad's bike was locked up. He's being charged with felony theft, criminal damage to property, and resisting arrest as the cherry on top. He's being held on $50,000 bond. The police had my dad bring his bike into the station over the weekend to dust for prints build up their case against him.

The other guy was caught taking a bike from an open garage nearby. He's being charged with residential burglary and possession of burglary tools and is being held on $150,000 bond.

Nice work by the police. Happy ending all around.

 

[Ykick]

Unfortunately, since USA needs prison space for pot smokers these thieves will likely get out much too soon.

Other than my crappiest POS eBike no way I lock/park in a city for more than a couple minutes. Glad to hear your dad's stolen bike was returned...

 

[john7700]

Update: The local police put out a press release this morning announcing the arrest of the guy they believe stole my dad's bike, plus another separate guy, both caught in the act of stealing bikes last week.

The guy who stole my dad's bike was caught cutting a lock with bolt cutters in the same place where my dad's bike was locked up. He's being charged with felony theft, criminal damage to property, and resisting arrest as the cherry on top. He's being held on $50,000 bond. The police had my dad bring his bike into the station over the weekend to dust for prints build up their case against him.

The other guy was caught taking a bike from an open garage nearby. He's being charged with residential burglary and possession of burglary tools and is being held on $150,000 bond.

Nice work by the police. Happy ending all around.

 

[dogman dan]

A happy ending so rare you gotta love it.

 

[ebent]

Yes!!! With the size of those bonds, those bad boys are going to be quite involved for hopefully a long time. Still a public beating would be the best deterent as well as emotional satifaction for the victims. If the crime is bad enough whip them with some frequency as mandated by the judge. Our prison populations would drop a lot.

 

[cal3thousand]

This is a cool idea:

A GPS tracker that will sense movement and SMS you with the coordinates. Hides in the headset (or other location) and attaches with a special tool. At $150+, it's a bit expensive, but it may be worth it if you have a $3000 bike.

http://www.gizmag.com/spybike-gps-tracker/22999/

 

[Trackman417]

This is a cool idea:

A GPS tracker that will sense movement and SMS you with the coordinates. Hides in the headset (or other location) and attaches with a special tool. At $150+, it's a bit expensive, but it may be worth it if you have a $3000 bike.

http://www.gizmag.com/spybike-gps-tracker/22999/

You watched the video right? Does it keep strobing when it's armed? It'll be better then nothing though. I guess I'll put it right where I store my battery's. Not even I can find stuff in my battery case.