Recovery!

It has been ten months since my bicycle was stolen.

This morning at 9:00am I got a phone call from the Vancouver Police Department. The detective told me that he had some good news for me. I immediately said My bike!!1! Yes, it was about my bike. Someone had brought my Devinci bicycle into a pawn shop on Hastings street, near the Army and Navy store. Did I want it back?

Yes, I wanted it back. So about an hour and a half later it was delivered to me by the detective. He brought it over in the trunk of his car. Amazing.

The original cranks and pedals are on the bike; I can tell because I removed the reflector on one side of each pedal to install toe clips. The toe clips are gone. The original brakes are on the bike, I think; the MEC cartridge style pads that I had put on the bike just before it was stolen are there. My retractable basket is gone, but the rack is still there. The original rear wheel with original tire is on the bike. And a new, crappy wheel is on the front.

I still can't believe it. I tightened up the rear brake cable, and with a little air in the tires it would be ready to ride. So now I have three bicycles, which is just about the right number, for now.

If only that bike could talk. How many owners has it had? What crazy adventures has it been on for the past ten months?

Stolen Bicycle Recovered

My stolen bike was not recovered. But take a look at this Vancouver Police Department Media Release:

July 28th, 9:45 a.m.: A bike stolen in Ontario has been recovered in Vancouver after police stopped a man riding his bike on the sidewalk without a helmet. When the serial number was queried in the police database, it turned up as stolen. “This is a perfect example of why it is always a good idea to keep a record of your property’s serial numbers and to advise police when something is stolen,” says Constable Tim Fanning. “Alternatively, you can inscribe your driver’s licence number onto your property, which may make it easier for police to contact you, especially if you aren’t aware yet that something has been taken.”

I wonder if the bike would have been recovered sooner if it had had an RFID tag embedded in it? I think it's pretty amazing that a bike stolen in Ontario is kicking around in Vancouver. I think I might be getting closer to accepting that I'll never see my Devinci again. I wonder where it is right now? Saskatoon?

Quite often these press releases contain phrases like N pounds of cocaine/marijuana were recovered from the vehicle, after it was pulled over for speeding and running stop signs. Note to self: if I am in possession of stolen or otherwise prohibited goods, I will not ride on the sidewalk without a helmet, or otherwise do anything that will draw the attention of the authorities toward me. It's just common sense.

Free device to combat bicycle theft

2007.July.27 article in the Surry (UK) Advertiser.

I don't like bike theft, but still, I don't really want an RFID tag embedded in my bicycle. How exactly is this different from a serial number on the bicycle? The serial number can be scratched off or otherwise obscured, you say? Well passive RFID tags can be fried. So yeah, it's basically equivalent to a serial number etched into the frame of the bicycle.

The code, bicycle and owner details are registered on a 24-hour database.

Cool! My databases are 16-hour, tops, and that's on a good day.

“[RFID tags and patrolling] enables them to stop cyclist (sic) and ask them to verify ownership of the bicycle. If the cycle is not fitted with a tag, they are still asked questions to confirm that it does belong to them.” ... Anyone who is stopped with a stolen bicycle could be arrested and the bicycle confiscated.

Sounds good. So if your bicycle is not fitted with an RFID tag and you are stopped by one of these patrols, how exactly do you confirm to the police that the bicycle belongs to you? Should I ride around with my sales receipt at all times? What if I forget it, or it's in my other pants?!

I hear that automobile theft is also a problem in some cities. I think that the obvious benefits of such a system should not be confined to the cyclists. Lord knows society already bends over backwards enough for them as it is. I think that this service should be graciously extended to car owners as well. That is, I want a special patrol to stop drivers and ask them questions to confirm that the car belongs to them.

A little off the top

The barber shop I go to was robbed recently. Cash was stolen of course, but a quantity of scissors was also taken. My barber told me this as she was cutting my hair. She also explained to me that she was left-handed and was having trouble using the short term replacement scissors, which were righties. Best haircut I've ever had!