Cycling in Sydney Australia
Stolen beloved mountain bike! asking for help
Hi everyone,
I am a new cyclist in Sydney, I just arrived in February to complete my Masters in Sustainable Development in UNSW.
One the first things I did when I landed, it was to get myself a bicycle to move around so I did.. Unfortunately, last Saturday when I was coming back home from the library I stopped at Westfield in Bondi Junction to buy some groceries at woolys. Within 10min that took to buy the stuff.. my bike was gone!! I could not believe it. It was locked with a kryptonite flexible key lock in Oxford St, in front of the Eastern pub where all the bicycle racks are. The time was 3:30pm, so it was full of people around.
I want to warn you all of not locking your bike in that place unless you got a good u-lock and remove your wheels to make it more difficult to steal. I have been asking around and more people have got their bikes stolen in the same place.
I reported it to the police and westfield security, also asked around the pawn shops in Bondi Junction, other than that I do not know what to do.. I will really appreciate any suggestions or help upon this issue. My bike was a new 2010 model of Merida Matts TFS XC 100, black with white fork and flames and little green details (attached photo). I have not seen other bike like mine so far.. so if anyone has seen one after last saturday I will deeply appreciate any info.
The worst thing it is that I cannot afford to buy a new one. Thus I would also appreciate any suggestion of where to buy a cheap used bicycle or an old one that needs to be fixed.. I used to ride it everyday to uni.
Deep thanks,
Eduardo
I am a new cyclist in Sydney, I just arrived in February to complete my Masters in Sustainable Development in UNSW.
One the first things I did when I landed, it was to get myself a bicycle to move around so I did.. Unfortunately, last Saturday when I was coming back home from the library I stopped at Westfield in Bondi Junction to buy some groceries at woolys. Within 10min that took to buy the stuff.. my bike was gone!! I could not believe it. It was locked with a kryptonite flexible key lock in Oxford St, in front of the Eastern pub where all the bicycle racks are. The time was 3:30pm, so it was full of people around.
I want to warn you all of not locking your bike in that place unless you got a good u-lock and remove your wheels to make it more difficult to steal. I have been asking around and more people have got their bikes stolen in the same place.
I reported it to the police and westfield security, also asked around the pawn shops in Bondi Junction, other than that I do not know what to do.. I will really appreciate any suggestions or help upon this issue. My bike was a new 2010 model of Merida Matts TFS XC 100, black with white fork and flames and little green details (attached photo). I have not seen other bike like mine so far.. so if anyone has seen one after last saturday I will deeply appreciate any info.
The worst thing it is that I cannot afford to buy a new one. Thus I would also appreciate any suggestion of where to buy a cheap used bicycle or an old one that needs to be fixed.. I used to ride it everyday to uni.
Deep thanks,
Eduardo
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on -
Thank you very much! That is really kind from you.
I tried to message you but I cannot until we become friends in here.
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Permalink Reply by MadameBike on -
How did they cut throught the kryptonite cable? I thought those things were almost indestructible?
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Permalink Reply by back street boy on -
depends on which model , but most cable locks are easily bolt-cuttered. Kyrptonite dont have the best reputation anyway after the bic pen incident. I use two small d-lock, reomving wheels etc is a drag.
I hope you do get you bike back, but if it does turn up in a pawn shop the police will hold onto for a while, leaving you bikeless for longer.
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on
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Thank you! I will be happy to wait as long as I can get my bike back...
Btw, should we all cyclist use u-locks then? are they much better?
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Permalink Reply by back street boy on
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Heaps of info on the web about the best way to lock a bike up and what to use. My preference is small U locks but there are other options (some more exteme than others).
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on
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Hi Herzog,
Thank you! I have been at some pawn shops already but have not had any luck yet... Instead, it has made me worried because in one of the shops they asked how much money would I want to pay to get my bike back! I first could not believe it, why should I pay for my own bike again? But then, I realise that if they buy the bike to the thief, then who will pay them back once I get my bike back? I know the answer that should be.. but how does it work in the real world? Do they lose that money then?
Thanks again
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Carter on -
Eduardo, the pawnshop guy was either taking the mickey, or he was ignorant of the law, or he is dishonest. Or possibly all three. I'm sorry you lost your bike. But if you should see it in a pawnshop, it is yours and you do not have to pay for it again. If they argue, call the police. If a pawnshop buys stolen goods, and they can be positively identified, then that is the pawnshop's problem and their loss.
I hope you get it back.
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on
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Thank you Adrian! The problem is that now I have been asking around for the bike and give them a description, so they will just not take it from the thief if they know that they will lose money doing it.
It sounds depressing but I guess it is how it is.
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Permalink Reply by sit ubu sit on
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You'll pay them - pay them the favour of not involving the police where they might end up getting charged with receiving stolen property. But personally, if you do stumble across it in a pawn shop, ring the police straight away and they'll come in and investigate it. Best to get these dodgy pawn shops shut down, and technically they are supposed to record details from a photo ID of the person who sold it.
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Permalink Reply by Eduardo on
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Thank you! I will call the police if I see my bike around... However, I guess thieves must have fake IDs in that case. So, it will not help to bust them!
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