How to find a child's stolen bike?
How sad is this? Any ideas for finding a child's stolen bike?
My 7-year-old daughter's bike was stolen from in front of our house today. I realized, too, late how "valuable" it is, at least to her. The bike isn't worth much money at all, is old, has a torn banana seat. It's vintage, I suppose, but battered, and its true value is in the fact that Eugenia learned to ride on it (in two hours flat! without training wheels!), loves it dearly, and rides it daily. While I think of myself as a pacifist, I find myself wishing karmic retribution on a massive scale for the person [I almost used a much, uh, earthier, word] who stole her beloved bike. But I'm trying to put my energies to more positive use. I've registered the bike as stolen on finetoothcog.com, which searches for stolen bikes on the internet, via Craigslist and eBay. Is there anything else I'm missing here? It seems unlikely that reporting it to the police will help, am I right? Or should I try? We don't have a serial number or anything like that.
In the meantime, if anyone sees a beat-up old child's red sparkly Schwinn Stingray with a torn banana seat, please alert this mama (who will do anything I can to find it). I know a heartbroken, tearstained little girl who would be very grateful for its return.
How devastated she must be! Do you have any pictures of her bike stowed away? Maybe it would be worth making a few flyers and posting them around the neighborhood. If you haven't got a photo then perhaps a description like you posted here would do. It would at least be something to do for now. Perhaps if the bike isn't found after a certain period, then you could go in search of a new bike? I know it'll never replace the memories that you have with her bike but bike thieves rarely consider the feelings of others, I'm sure.
Posted by: Shetha | August 07, 2007 at 09:01 AM
I know it's not the same situation, but Dave's bike was stolen last year. After it was stolen, we realized all the steps we SHOULD have taken before anything like this happened. Here is some bike theft/bike protection info on BikePortland: http://bikeportland.org/biketheft
When Dave's bike was stolen, we were RSS-ing craigslist for any Trek bike, and checking out the description, though I know this is what finetoothcog does for you.
We never retrieved it, but I know they are able to find stolen bikes sometimes when owners report bikes stolen on BikePortland and/or Finetoothcog. I think it's worth a police report and making every effort.
We have pictures of our old bike and I put a photo on our screensaver for a long time - his old bike pulling Philly on her tag-along. The girls miss his red bike too, and they ask, "Why do people steal bikes?" I hate that I don't have a very good answer for them.
I'm sorry Eugenia's bike was stolen. What an awful experience for a 7-year old. I hope that you will be able to save up to soon get an affordable replacement bike from the Community Cycling Center or even off craigslist.
Posted by: olivia | August 07, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Thank you! Strangely, we discovered the bike was missing as I was taking my brand new bike out of the van, fresh from the store -- a bike I bought just so I could go on bike rides with my girl. It's all so heartbreaking! Who steals a child's bike?!
Posted by: ShariMac | August 07, 2007 at 09:52 AM
Please always report stolen bikes to the police, even if there is zero chance they will recover it for you! They keep statistics that effect the level of police patrol in your neighborhood and if there is a rash of bike thefts or car break-ins or something else "minor" the only way they will know is if every victim reports. Call the non-emergency number and just leave a message, it's easy: 503.823.3333
Posted by: AmyS | August 07, 2007 at 10:33 AM
I would suggest making flyers and putting them up around the neighborhood. Your daughter could help and it might make her feel better, like she's taking an active role in "the bike hunt". It is never fun to feel like a victim. Who knows, maybe it was a kid from your neighborhood who stole it and seeing a flyer might just get it back. Good luck!!
Posted by: Emily Flippin Maruna | August 07, 2007 at 12:00 PM
I don't have any helpful tips for you but I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your sweet little girl. This has got to be so devastating! I truly hope you find it!
Posted by: Katie | August 07, 2007 at 08:45 PM
So sorry about this. You have our deepest sympathy and empathy. We are in a similar boat here- my six year old daughter's beloved red razor scooter was stolen off our front porch on Monday afternoon. She rides it everyday, and we over the weekend we'd found a used 3 wheel scooter for her little brother, and they were FINALLY able to scoot together. We were also going to engrave a phone number on the scooter the day before, but forgot...
Posted by: Liz | August 08, 2007 at 09:31 AM