Bunnylady
Well-Known Member
We think the bike was stolen on Saturday. It's a mountain bike, smallish frame with two diagonal bars (some people would call it a "girl's bike.") Supposedly it was bought for me, but my daughter is the only family member that never rides it, so who's is it? Anyway, the last time it was seen was Friday, when my son put it in the workshop, but it wasn't missed until Sunday, when my husband wanted to ride it. We have a large yard, it took some searching before we decided that it really was missing.
Monday, I began sorta spreading the word among the neighborhood kids about the bike. We've had it about ten years, it was bought at a yard sale from someone who'd had it knocking around in their garage for years. It's not in the best of shape, so has little value (beyond its usefulness.) I figured it would get dumped in a ditch somewhere when the thief got tired of it.
Monday evening, I saw 4 teenagers ride bikes through our yard. We tolerate that, even encourage it, believing that people who think themselves welcome are more likely to behave themselves than those who are knowingly trespassing. I did wonder if any of them were riding my bike, but I thought I might know a couple of them, and only saw them for a couple of seconds before they were out of sight.
A few minutes later, the kids ride back the other way, only this time, there are 4 kids, and 5 bikes. They were in a big hurry, too. When my husband got home, I told him what I had seen. He had some things to do in the yard, while he was there, a couple of these kids cut through the yard again. It was almost fully dark by this time, but he talked with them briefly, got their names. They assured him that they knew me (which they did) and we let things rest with that.
Tuesday evening, as Hubby is driving home, he sees a Sheriff's deputy in the driveway of a house down the street with his little notebook in hand. Knowing that those people have children, he put two and two together and said "You're here about a stolen bike report, aren't you?" The deputy followed him home, and we both told him what we knew. Turns out, he had our bike in the back of his patrol car! Evidently, they had dumped it in these folks' yard when they took the other two bikes.
So we have our bike back, rather the worse for wear, but I am still furious! I have known these kids for years! As they say, it's nice to know who your friends are!
Monday, I began sorta spreading the word among the neighborhood kids about the bike. We've had it about ten years, it was bought at a yard sale from someone who'd had it knocking around in their garage for years. It's not in the best of shape, so has little value (beyond its usefulness.) I figured it would get dumped in a ditch somewhere when the thief got tired of it.
Monday evening, I saw 4 teenagers ride bikes through our yard. We tolerate that, even encourage it, believing that people who think themselves welcome are more likely to behave themselves than those who are knowingly trespassing. I did wonder if any of them were riding my bike, but I thought I might know a couple of them, and only saw them for a couple of seconds before they were out of sight.
A few minutes later, the kids ride back the other way, only this time, there are 4 kids, and 5 bikes. They were in a big hurry, too. When my husband got home, I told him what I had seen. He had some things to do in the yard, while he was there, a couple of these kids cut through the yard again. It was almost fully dark by this time, but he talked with them briefly, got their names. They assured him that they knew me (which they did) and we let things rest with that.
Tuesday evening, as Hubby is driving home, he sees a Sheriff's deputy in the driveway of a house down the street with his little notebook in hand. Knowing that those people have children, he put two and two together and said "You're here about a stolen bike report, aren't you?" The deputy followed him home, and we both told him what we knew. Turns out, he had our bike in the back of his patrol car! Evidently, they had dumped it in these folks' yard when they took the other two bikes.
So we have our bike back, rather the worse for wear, but I am still furious! I have known these kids for years! As they say, it's nice to know who your friends are!
