Topic: Someone Just tried To Jack my Bike

[campbmic]

Ive read all of your psts so far and they're all great. One thing I might not have mentioned. I have a huge 3,000 sqft garage in the back of my house (one of the reasons I moved to the industrial district). Since my front door leads directly into my kitchen and directly into a staircase that opens into my bedroom. I usually leave my metal screen door locked and my wooden door open. That way I always have a clean view of the bike. On this particular day the wind must have shut the wooden door.

Around where I live theres a bunch of motorcyclist and a lot of vintage bikes. Everyday I see an old guy (no offense) riding his old triumph or honda around. I really like being able to leave the bike on the sidewalk out front because it looks pretty sweet out there.



The arrow points to my front door and the X shows where the bike was yesterday, literally a foot from my front door.

I'm thinking that a lot of you guys are right about not leaving the key in the bike. However, last night if the key wasn't in the bike it would have been rolled off, and I wouldnt have heard it start, and I would be a lot more sad right now. I guess if I want to have my bike sitting outside I just have to be a lot more careful next time. Its a shame 

[754]

The guy was just giving you a wakeup call, you should thank him..
 You dont have sore knuckles, bike did not get dropped, and its still yours..

 You and I know that if he seriously wanted it, he would have rolled it around the corner,& had a helmet on and got the bike!

 Did he have it on reserve?, he would if he intended to take it..

[HondaMan]

I grew up in 17 States before I was 16 years old. Some of it was in the country (almost every summer I went to a farm in Missouri during those years). There, we left the keys in the vehicles so we could find them when we needed them. For High School, we moved to Chicago, just in time for the 1966-68 riots, where I got beat up twice and we had to lock everything up and down or it was gone. In 1969 I (the riots) moved to Peoria (maybe I'm the cause?), where I was going to college: I got waylaid in an alley once more. That was the last time, as I embraced both karate and the 2nd Amendment. And I built security for everything I owned.

America hasn't really been quite the same since the Civil Rights riots of the 1960s. 
Somehow, bike theft across the nation got real big during the 1970s and never has ramped back down.

[campbmic]

Good point about the keys. I only have one key (which I need to get copies made of anyone know where?) and I'm sick of not being able to find it so Ive just gotten into a habit of keeping it in my pocket or in the bike.

Fortunately, I wasn't alive before the civil rights movement. Im sure a lot has changed but Im 100% sure that its for the best.

By the way I just remembered he had the kickstand up when I went out there! This must have been how the FBI felt when they caught the the guy who tried to blow up time square just as his plane was leaving.

[Damfino]

Good point about the keys. I only have one key (which I need to get copies made of anyone know where?) and I'm sick of not being able to find it so Ive just gotten into a habit of keeping it in my pocket or in the bike.

http://hondakeys.com/

[Duke McDukiedook]

I dunno I kinda enliken it to riding or getting on another mans horse, you just don't do it unless you have direct permisson to do so.

And if you do so you do it knowing you could potentially get hung or shot for it.

Maybe I'm just old school that way... 

[Damfino]

I dunno I kinda enliken it to riding or getting on another mans sheep, you just don't do it unless you have direct permisson to do so.

And if you do so you do it knowing you could potentially get hung or shot for it.

Maybe I'm just old school that way... 

Fixed it for you Dukie. 

[wildcatmahone]

The guy says, "Hello" and I just stare at him with a shocked / Im about to kill you glare.

The guy says, "I've seen this bike out here all day and I figured I would come over and...."


The guy says, "Well I guess I should get off now..."

And I reply, "You can either get off now or I can shoot you off the choice is up to you"

By the way I just remembered he had the kickstand up when I went out there! This must have been how the FBI felt when they caught the the guy who tried to blow up time square just as his plane was leaving.

yeh he was def gonna take that bike.....

I dunno I kinda enliken it to riding or getting on another mans horse, you just don't do it unless you have direct permisson to do so.

And if you do so you do it knowing you could potentially get hung or shot for it.

Maybe I'm just old school that way... 

That reminds me of one day in Brooklyn NY at a ghetto Mobil station these two guys were digging my bike was talking to them as I was getting some air. Bike was idling, turned my back to put some quarters in the machine looked back and one of them was ready to put a leg over. Must of gave him the death stare cause he immediately jumped back f*ckin pussy and that was that. Chancers. 

[speedy_the_drummer]

After reading this, I got an idea.

I know there are GPS tracking devices that you can buy, but I feel like they would be expensive. So, why not just make up some fake company name and create a sticker that says

"This Bike is protected by National GPS Bike Tracking" or something to that degree.

I know it's just a sticker, but hell, if I saw that I'd think twice.

Who can make stickers? I'd take two!

[asom]

viper and apple have partnered to create smartstart remote start.  it has a kill feature that could be integrated into the ignition system.  it works through the iPhone and doesn't have a mile limitation.  If someone took your bike you could use your phone to kill ignition.    Still not impossible and the grab and through guys would be able to uninstall at a differetn location but a starter kill feature should still be viable in a two v. four wheel application.


I know it would add all of 1/4 lb and that is a problem for some of you .

[Hasenkopf]

Hmmm I would set a booby trab and wait for the focker to come back, and then attaaaaackk !!

[campbmic]

S[eaking of tracking devices I've heard of some people putting a phone charger on their bike and always having a charged cell phone.The cell phone company is able to locate the phone and viola!

[Jordan]

Your property! on your property! your right to defend it! Tell him in a calm voice to move it or lose it, then count to 00.01 and JUST SHOOT THE SCUMBUCKET, just make sure it does not survive to sue you, 3 taps strategically placed should do it. After that there is a 99.99% chance no one else in their right mind will ever bother you or your stuff again.

[BobbyR]

Your property! on your property! your right to defend it! Tell him in a calm voice to move it or lose it, then count to 00.01 and JUST SHOOT THE SCUMBUCKET, just make sure it does not survive to sue you, 3 taps strategically placed should do it. After that there is a 99.99% chance no one else in their right mind will ever bother you or your stuff again.

That will buy you a stretch for manslaughter. Even if you get off the Lawyer fees will alter the rest of your life. 

[BLUE71TURBO]

  ENOUGH SAID !!!   

             

  OH yea, I forgot the shovel !!       Too bad ya live far away, i have a couple of throw away's.   

[dave500]

i might leave a realistic fake vomit on the seat.

[Jordan]

Depends on which state and each scenario is different. Given the scenario in the post it indicates crime is rather common in that location and I would venture to say that the threat to life and property was very real. Of course legally it would have been favorable for the intended victim, if the thief had made a threatening move towards him. Then again the guy could have been a harmless mentally ill individual. Each to his own comfort level, but it was my gut response, I am tired of bums that would rather steal others stuff than work at an honest job and get their own stuff. One thing is for sure never threaten with a firearm if you do not have one and if you do, use it before the scum uses theirs. If you know the laws regarding the use of lethal force in your area, the legal ramifications are minimized. You just have to be able to live with your decisions. The authorities will be the first to tell you they can not protect everyone all the time and there are instances JQPublic must take appropriate action to protect themselves and their property.   

[campbmic]

Ya, a lot of you guys have been talking about shooting the guy. Im angry with him for what he did but if it came down to it I would much rather let someone take my bike then kill them. Maybe its me being young a stupid but I think someone's life, no matter how much of a scumbag they are, is worth a lot more than my bike.

[scottly]

Not to mention what the consequences would be for you, morally as well as legally. Even in gun-totin AZ, you can't shoot someone for stealing your bike, or your car stereo. In hindsight, and as someone has already suggested, you really should have called the cops, given them a description, he was headed South on...
Really an unsettling event....   

[hoodellyhoo]

Makes me mad just to read your story. Hope you figure something out that works.

[bucky katt]

i wouldnt have shot the guy unless he came after me, one of the things youre taught in cwp classes. i would have however beaten the everloving #$%* out of him then left his bleeding ass on the sidewalk.

[HondaMan]

i might leave a realistic fake vomit on the seat.

Now, THERE's a good idea! 

[BobbyR]

Ya, a lot of you guys have been talking about shooting the guy. Im angry with him for what he did but if it came down to it I would much rather let someone take my bike then kill them. Maybe its me being young a stupid but I think someone's life, no matter how much of a scumbag they are, is worth a lot more than my bike.

Good for you. It is easier to talk about killing someone than living with the memory of doing it. Get a good lock and chain to at least slow them down.

[MRieck]

Ya, a lot of you guys have been talking about shooting the guy. Im angry with him for what he did but if it came down to it I would much rather let someone take my bike then kill them. Maybe its me being young a stupid but I think someone's life, no matter how much of a scumbag they are, is worth a lot more than my bike.

Good for you. It is easier to talk about killing someone than living with the memory of doing it. Get a good lock and chain to at least slow them down.

I don't talk about this stuff often but Bobby is 100% correct......do not talk about beating guys up BECAUSE if they kill them it's on your dime. Think about that. My brother and I have.

[Hush]

How about a quick release bladed main fuse, not too many thieves would carry one of those (cos I just invented it)

But 20 years of Karate has taught me that if you don't know your opponent and there is an alternative to physical confrontation, you are better to take that path.
Could be a junkie with HepC, HIV+ whatever, might be a gun carrying escaped psycho patient.
I'm always amazed to see some ex con who I have been dealing with for the last 15 years when I meet them on the street, all around me the public walk past them not knowing their propensity to cause harm/rape/murder etc.

Of course it would have been much more satisfying to drop the bike thieving low life scum on the street.