News Apr 23, 2009 at 4:00 am

UW Student Turns Craigslist Against Bike Thief

Comments

1
Hell yeah! Hopefully the PPD get some real charges on him.
2
Michelle,

You are my hero! Hell yeah, finally one for the bike thief victims. I am just going to experience all of my justice vicariously through you now, and hope that I never lose another bike that way.

Thanks,

John
3
Hell Yes! You go!
4
Anyone out there know if the City of Seattle has a pre-emptive bike registry program? I have heard of programs overseas that include a digital picture of the bike as well as a serial number to be stored with the police. I'd rather not just rely on the National Bike Registry alone ($10/year).
5
So happy you got your bike back. Anyone out there know if the City of Seattle has a pre-emptive bike registry program? I have heard of programs overseas that include a digital picture of the bike as well as a serial number to be stored with the police. I'd rather not just rely on the National Bike Registry alone ($10/year).
6
This is a great idea, a free, police-only digital database of bikes with their serial numbers, accessible from their patrol cars? Seems cheap and easy to me.
7
Good job, Michelle. I had two bikes stolen my freshman and sophomore year at SU, never to be seen again. It's nice to hear the cops actually cared about catching the guy, instead of just brushing it off like they usually do.
8
I can't find a website for a Seattle bicycle registry program, but the Cascade website lists this:
Seattle Police/Bicycle Registry Program, (206) 684-8720

There is a UW bike registry for UW students/faculty/staff: https://www.washington.edu/admin/police/…

In my experience, I don't think the police ever looked at my registration, but they cared very much that I had registered my bike.

There is also a registry for stolen bikes which I recommend using if your bike is stolen or if you are considering buying a used bike. The guy who runs it would love to get police using it, maybe even with rfid tags on bikes, but for now it's a grass roots sort of thing. stolenbicycleregistry.com

And, since I'm sharing links, if you have some time on your hands and want to read the FULL story of my bike caper, you can find it here: students.washington.edu/mmccully/redline

Happy Pedaling!
-Michelle
9
Great story! Glad that Michelle got her bike back. I was a lucky bike recover-er too, here's my story:
My bike, a custom ndependent Fabrication Crown Jewel SE, was stolen in February of 2008 from the UW campus. In September of 2008, 8 MONTHS LATER, I found the bike for sale in Tucson, ARIZONA on craigslist, with pictures and all. Sgt. Schultz at UW was incredibly helpful and convinced the University of Arizona police to attend an "appointment" I had made with the seller. They showed up, seized the bike, and shipped it back to me. A year later, I am one happy biker!!

If you've had a bike stolen, here's a few hints for recovery: If your bike gets stolen, craigslist and ebay are generally the best places to look for a bike. You can do a google advanced search for your bike - say "redline," for example, using domain name "craigslist.org/bik" , which will pull up all postings with "redline" in every craigslist city in the country. You can also set up an ebay search that will email you every time an auction with "redline" included begins. Good luck!
10
Eli, it's funny you would write a story about a theft in the week that ECB is on vacation.
11
As long as I've lived in Seattle, nearly all of those that've had their bikes stolen were locking them with cable locks. If you spend $500+ for a bike, do yourself a favor and get a U-Lock. If you have $60 to spend, get a U-lock with an additional cable to use to make sure both wheel cassettes are locked.
13
Why does this story not include the name of the person of interest?
14
Good work, Michelle. And more proof that SPD is fucking useless.
15
Don't forget that stolenbicycleregistry.com has a mobile version you/the cops/anybody can use, for free, at http://mobile.stolenbicycleregistry.com

-bhance
-SBR
16
I am an Officer of the Seattle Police Department and I am far too busy looking for Mayor Nickels' lost golf balls to be bothered with the citizenry and their petty disputes over private property.

When will you learn? We ticket illegal parking, we enforce noise complaints on bars and we shoot blacks. I don't know where you people ever got the idea that we have anything to do with you and your boring littany griefs.

"Oh, I want my bike back! Stealing is a crime! Waaahhh!"

Please. Shut up, get a new bike and let us get back to milking the clock and towing cars.

Thanks.
17
I know you Francis.. you big bend over..
18
I'm going through a very similar situation myself, but with a stolen instrument...Hope I get the same results! Good job, Michelle!
19
what the hell do we pay the police force for, anyway? does anyone have a story of how they were helpful, because I've only heard stories so far of how folks have had to fight the red tape to get them to do their fricking jobs.

Please wait...

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