Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 9/27/83; site hplabsb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabsb!culberts From: culberts@hplabsb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: Stolen_bicycles Message-ID: <2721@hplabsb.UUCP> Date: Wed, 23-Jan-85 12:43:40 EST Article-I.D.: hplabsb.2721 Posted: Wed Jan 23 12:43:40 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 25-Jan-85 06:48:40 EST Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 39 The bicycles listed below were stolen from my house in the middle of December. Should you discover one of them, please alert your local police and contact me. Avoid buying them! Pogliaghi #3522(?) gold 56 cm. Small dent in top tube. Trek 400 #404409454 red 24 inch Since I was robbed, I have learned that bicycle theft rings are extremely well organized and efficient. The police told me that the bikes were probably fenced within an hour of being removed from my house. Tens of thousands of bicycles are stolen each year. (Where do they all go? Who buys them?) We, the victims of bicycle thefts, are of course not well organized. I suggest the following rules to protect yourself and others. 1. Require absolute proof of ownership before buying a used bike. It is probably safe to say that most used bikes which are for sale are stolen. 2. Never buy a bike which has had its serial number removed. It is probably safe to say that all such bikes are stolen! 3. Fancy bikes are more easily traced than cheap ones. For this reason, their components are usually removed and sold on other, often cheaper, frames. Consequently, you should be particularly suspicious of used components and bicycles with components which are better than their frames warrant. Unfortunately, thieves often destroy fancy frames. 4. Urge your local newspaper to accept only bike ads which include serial numbers. Do you have other ideas? Please share them. Thanks. Tom Harper (415)856-8375 Bruce Culbertson CULBERTSON@HP-LABS 290 Chestnut Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94306