Bikies,
I have some very good news: my Peugeot UO-18 mixte, which was stolen from outside our apartment on April 5, was recovered early this afternoon, May 1:
It's a little the worse for wear (like me) and beaten up, but she's whole, and only missing her leather-padded toe straps and the contents of my panniers and my seat bag (tools, lock, cable, pump, 3 flashing red bike lights, etc.).
Many thanks to Jason, a Cycles of Change APC volunteer, who spotted my unique mixte in Emeryville, trailed the 12-year-old riding it back to his house in Oakland, watched the house, and called me.
Many thanks also to Oakland PD Officers Charles O'Connor (#8732) and Terry Jones (#8427), who quickly responded to my call to the Oakland PD and were at the house before I arrived. They checked out the house, recovered my bike, and brought it to me.
Thanks to all of you who kept an eye out for my ride, spread the word, posted about it in blogs, and offered your support through all this. It has meant a great deal and helped keep me going in the search, which took lots of time and effort in my depressed state.
The lessons from all this?
1) ALWAYS lock your bike up securely. ESPECIALLY when you'll only leave it "for a minute."
2) TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES OF YOUR BIKE and document the components, serial number, and other details.
3) Engrave it with your driver's license number, SSN, or similar identifying marks, and/or stuff a business card or other identifying paperwork inside the seat tube where only you will know it's there.
4) If your bike is stolen, TELL EVERYONE--THEN KEEP TELLING THEM. Pass out flyers with a good color photo, inform all the local bike shops and bike clubs, file a police report AND contact other local jurisdictions as well.
5) OFFER A REWARD, "no questions asked." (I offered $200 for a bike that would have cost me $800 or more to replace. The reward was donated to Cycles of Change in Alameda, at Jason's request.)
6) NEVER GIVE UP. This bike was stolen on April 5 in Alameda. I did not know it was spotted in Berkeley on April 17 and April 24 until Saturday, April 24. Linda and I were looking for the bike at Berkeley's Ashby BART station flea market again today when Jason spotted my bike, trailed it, and called me around noon.
I am relieved but still on an emotional roller coaster. My bike is at Stone's Cyclery to be checked out and is safe. I'm facing costs of $150 or so to repair the bike and replace my lost gear, and not quite used to having my bike back yet. But for the first time in my life I have had a stolen bike returned to me, and I'm glad I have a chance to get used to that new experience.
Regards,
Jon Spangler relieved and very tired in Alameda, CA
Jon Spangler
Writer/editor
Linda Hudson Writing
TEL 510-864-2144
CEL 510-846-5356
JonSwriter@att.net
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