Justice is served!

[Deanna]

This is so great, I had to share it. About 3 weeks ago my husbands Trek 5900 was stolen from our garage, along with some other pricey bike parts. He finally gave up on getting it back and bought himself a new bike last Wednesday. Then just last night his bike shows up on eBay--the seller (goes by the name dlsmitty) posted lots of details and pictures and even listed his location as the town it was stolen in. It was listed as a one-day auction with no reserve, so he apparently wanted to get rid of it quickly. My husband contacted the seller and arranged to meet him to "test ride" the bike and then called the police to see what he should do next. They wanted to take care of it, so this morning they sent an undercover detective to our house to get the details from us. The detective got wired up, put his stake out team in place at the meeting spot and posed as my husband. Not only did they get the guy trying to sell the bike, when he found out he was facing felony grand theft charges, he spilled the beans on the guy he bought it from. We now have the bike and all the parts back!

[Veronica]

That is so cool! I'm really happy for him. He seemed so forlorn on Hamiliton with all the trouble he'd been having. BTW I had no idea your honey had finished DMD so fast! That's really awesome.

V.

[slinkedog]

Great news, Deanna! I'm so glad it was found. Is it still in good condition? Now, what to do with the new bike!!!

[SadieKate]

Such good news. Having had a lot of stuff "liberated" from our house several years ago, I know how he feels. Eleven years later I still look to see if it is our custom tandem riding by. Glad the police helped out and took care of it all for you. That's what we pays our taxes for!

[Deanna]

That is so cool! I'm really happy for him. He seemed so forlorn on Hamiliton with all the trouble he'd been having. BTW I had no idea your honey had finished DMD so fast! That's really awesome.

V.

He was very frustrated and beginning to think there was some message behind all his bad luck. He is a fast rider, and he's really enjoys climbing. I constantly have to remind myself that I can't judge my abilities by his or I just get frustrated.

In response to slinkedog, it's scratched up and there is some rust on the nuts on the handlebar stem, so it appears that it was left out in our late-season rains. As for the new bike, our insurance company has dropped a check in the mail for the replacement of the stolen bike, from the experience of other riders in our local club, it sounds as if the insurance company now owns the recovered bike. In 90% of these cases, the insurer sold the bike back to the original owner at a depreciated cost (depreciated due to damage, based on a LBS estimate) so he may end up with both bikes.

[Veronica]

I constantly have to remind myself that I can't judge my abilities by his or I just get frustrated.

Ahh... that whole power to weight thing I think. Guys just naturally have more power in general and usually less weight. It's just not fair.


When I weighed 8 pounds less, I climbed Diablo about 20 minutes faster than I am right now. It's irritating. Does the 8 pounds really make that much difference? Or am I just not in as good shape overall? Who's to say.

I too like to climb, although I'm slower than cold molasses running up hill in wintertime.

I'm really glad it all worked out for you guys and I hope you'll join us on a ride soon.

V.

[RoadRaven]

So refreshing to hear a story where justice and due process and all that works...

I mean, we're taught as kids that the good guy always wins, and its a bit of a disappointment to find out as an adult that this isn't always true...

So pleased it was true in your case

[Pedal Wench]

I just saw a story this morning on CNN that the same thing happened to a woman whose home was broken into and her hubbies iPod was stolen. She had inscribed some lyrics on the back, and someone was selling it on ebay, complete with a picture of the inscription. Did the same thing - called the cops and they caught the guy who broke into her house. Way to go!!!!

[AutumnBreez]

That is excellent! Wish I could have seen that guys face when he was busted!!

That's classic.....sweet sweet justice!!

[Technotart]

Maybe the police departments should hire ebay fanatics to watch ebay for items stolen locally!

Congrats!