- Sep 10, 2004
- 10,507
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Today I just returned a bike that had been reported missing that I had just bought the day before off Craigslist.
The person originally posted the bike for a price that was very tempting but didn't give that (wow something's totally wrong here). Bikes around here on craigslist that are good deals go very fast. Therefore if you don't attempt to contact the seller within the first 15 minutes, someone else will. Well, I called the person and he stated that if I can meet him in an hour, I can have the bike. So, being a college student that I am, bussed down to meet him. There, he brought the bike saying it was his father's old bike that had passed away with pancreatic cancer. Of course, the bike matters more than the deal so after a bit of riding the person had written up a contract saying he had given me this bike. He also said that he would give me a tuneup at a local bike shop if I come by tomorrow (or today). So, I gave him my $200 and walked off. While I did, I noticed he had a woman and a husky guy walking with him.
Fast forward to today, I bring the bike to the shop he told me to go by (I didn't read the original address he put on there, I used the name as reference) and the shop owner tells me that no one by the name works there. He then goes to tell me that a few bikes have been stolen a week before and has curly brown hair. Crap. %**@. Too good to be true. So, the shop owner contacts a local detective and told me the bike wasn't stolen but the seller is wanted for bike theft. Whew for the bike part, lame for the thief part. The shop owner did then proceed to tell me to go to the local PD and give a statement in hopes of catching the guy.
When I went to the PD, the detective had stated that there has been an upsurge in bike theft lately in the area and he might be a prime suspect. He then ran my bike through the database (they apparently use .txt's to store their bike info...) and found no match. Whew. He then told me to as soon as possible, submit a report of everything I remembered about the transaction.
A few hours after the talk and sending the report, I get a call saying that they had found a missing bike report that was filed the day prior to the transaction and that they're going to have to take my bike back. The original report had matched up to the description of the bike which I never gave to the local PD. ^*#*... My $200... noo... so I called one of my friends to find possible ways of getting my money back. The only thing he could recommend at the time was to get a written proof that I returned the bike.
After my phone call, I get waived over by the same detective I met a few hours earlier. He then introduced me to the original bike owner who seemed very enthusiastic to get the bike back. The detective then made me do a photo lineup to find the guy. Thankfully, it was very easy to ID the person. Apparently he was smart enough to use his real name. He also apparently was selling a few other stolen bikes on craigslist and other websites. Hurray... When asking the owner what kind of lock he used, he stated he used a cable lock... ...wtf. He stated my area seemed very secure so he thought he wouldn't need anything more... ...U-lock + cable ftmw. He did mention that he saw the same ad, which implied that he was the one calling the whole time while the transaction was taking place.
Anyhow, the only way to get my $200 back is to hopefully let the law enforcement do their work, catch the guy, put him on trial, and make him pay restitution. Other than that, my $200 is down the drain. Returning a bike back that you paid for and having to wait that hopefully the bike thief idiot doesn't screw up and get life in prison so that he can pay you back sucks... especially if you're short on cash.
Cliffs:
- Bought bike off craigslist for $200
- Went to bike shop where the seller was supposed to clean the bike, only to learn I bought it from a bike thief
- Went to local PD, gave statement, kept bike.
- Few hours later, PD calls saying the bike belongs to someone and they're going to repossess it.
- They do... and I'm out $200 for however long it takes to apprehend the guy.
- Feel good morally, feel bad for my wallet and the wasted time and effort.
Update:
The police have caught the bike thief and he did confess. However, he only has $0.82, only solidifying my position as a victim and having the $200 tagged on as restitution for his case. The detective is trying all he can to get the charges upgraded to felony status since the thief has been a repeat offender. But, that implies it'll take a lot longer to get my money back (which of course, I'm doubtful). The trial is expected to be in a month or two.
The person originally posted the bike for a price that was very tempting but didn't give that (wow something's totally wrong here). Bikes around here on craigslist that are good deals go very fast. Therefore if you don't attempt to contact the seller within the first 15 minutes, someone else will. Well, I called the person and he stated that if I can meet him in an hour, I can have the bike. So, being a college student that I am, bussed down to meet him. There, he brought the bike saying it was his father's old bike that had passed away with pancreatic cancer. Of course, the bike matters more than the deal so after a bit of riding the person had written up a contract saying he had given me this bike. He also said that he would give me a tuneup at a local bike shop if I come by tomorrow (or today). So, I gave him my $200 and walked off. While I did, I noticed he had a woman and a husky guy walking with him.
Fast forward to today, I bring the bike to the shop he told me to go by (I didn't read the original address he put on there, I used the name as reference) and the shop owner tells me that no one by the name works there. He then goes to tell me that a few bikes have been stolen a week before and has curly brown hair. Crap. %**@. Too good to be true. So, the shop owner contacts a local detective and told me the bike wasn't stolen but the seller is wanted for bike theft. Whew for the bike part, lame for the thief part. The shop owner did then proceed to tell me to go to the local PD and give a statement in hopes of catching the guy.
When I went to the PD, the detective had stated that there has been an upsurge in bike theft lately in the area and he might be a prime suspect. He then ran my bike through the database (they apparently use .txt's to store their bike info...) and found no match. Whew. He then told me to as soon as possible, submit a report of everything I remembered about the transaction.
A few hours after the talk and sending the report, I get a call saying that they had found a missing bike report that was filed the day prior to the transaction and that they're going to have to take my bike back. The original report had matched up to the description of the bike which I never gave to the local PD. ^*#*... My $200... noo... so I called one of my friends to find possible ways of getting my money back. The only thing he could recommend at the time was to get a written proof that I returned the bike.
After my phone call, I get waived over by the same detective I met a few hours earlier. He then introduced me to the original bike owner who seemed very enthusiastic to get the bike back. The detective then made me do a photo lineup to find the guy. Thankfully, it was very easy to ID the person. Apparently he was smart enough to use his real name. He also apparently was selling a few other stolen bikes on craigslist and other websites. Hurray... When asking the owner what kind of lock he used, he stated he used a cable lock... ...wtf. He stated my area seemed very secure so he thought he wouldn't need anything more... ...U-lock + cable ftmw. He did mention that he saw the same ad, which implied that he was the one calling the whole time while the transaction was taking place.
Anyhow, the only way to get my $200 back is to hopefully let the law enforcement do their work, catch the guy, put him on trial, and make him pay restitution. Other than that, my $200 is down the drain. Returning a bike back that you paid for and having to wait that hopefully the bike thief idiot doesn't screw up and get life in prison so that he can pay you back sucks... especially if you're short on cash.
Cliffs:
- Bought bike off craigslist for $200
- Went to bike shop where the seller was supposed to clean the bike, only to learn I bought it from a bike thief
- Went to local PD, gave statement, kept bike.
- Few hours later, PD calls saying the bike belongs to someone and they're going to repossess it.
- They do... and I'm out $200 for however long it takes to apprehend the guy.
- Feel good morally, feel bad for my wallet and the wasted time and effort.
Update:
The police have caught the bike thief and he did confess. However, he only has $0.82, only solidifying my position as a victim and having the $200 tagged on as restitution for his case. The detective is trying all he can to get the charges upgraded to felony status since the thief has been a repeat offender. But, that implies it'll take a lot longer to get my money back (which of course, I'm doubtful). The trial is expected to be in a month or two.
Last edited:
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