You are hereBreaking News: Keith's stolen Handsome Devil has been RECOVERED!!!
Breaking News: Keith's stolen Handsome Devil has been RECOVERED!!!
I just got word that Keith's Handsome Devil that was stolen after last week's Social Ride has turned up in the UTPD Bike and Found. A regular on the Thursday and Monday rides saw it, called Keith, and confirmed the serial number. All he needs to do is pick his baby up! TOO AWESOME!
Here's the story from Keith, relayed to Clif:
Seems as though the dumb ass drunk who stole it managed to crash it right in front of a University of Texas policeman. During questioning, he was unable to get the name straight of just where he picked up his fancy ride and subsequently was arrested for public drunkenness and theft of a bicycle. Wow. The UT police cracked a case!
And this, folks, is why you want to report all stolen bicycles.
Karma at work Keith! Well done, and keep it up!
OK so Im so glad Keith got his hooptie back, and I hope it wasn't damaged. But does this mean that the thief dude is gonna be posted on "The Wall of Shame"? And if so, and once we all know who he is and what he looks like, is it gonna be Open Season on his ass? Cause you know, I'm a peaceful man but some lessons just gotta be taught the hard way. And some folk just gotta be made an example out of. Now Im not promoting violence here, I'm just venting cuz I HATE THIEVES!
Seriously, 2nding the call to post this guy's name and vitals here when available.
It was a couple of social cycling atx members that found it.
The guy got drunk in the BAR I WORK IN and decided to take it home. He was arrested for public intox and is now facing felony theft charges, which I will pursue until his life is so fucked he can't get a job, a bank account, a gun or be able to every vote again. I hope his life will be ruined. Being drunk is NO REASON to steal anything, especially a bike that someone uses as their transportation.
I love all of you guys... maybe i just need to buy ya'll some beer. Let's make it this thursday and every thursday after... beer is on me.
You all should be proud that you are part of such a bad ass cycling community. You all are the ones that make this the great group that it is. I cannot say thank you enough, but I will definitely try.
Hope the bike wasn't too crashed up.
Awesome!!!
Social Cycling ATX - a facebook group encouraging social cycling.
So great! I hope I see Keith on it at the ride tonight! Aaron
http://www.utexas.edu/police/campuswatch/archives/report.php?date=Oct+16...
200 West 6th Street
Public Intoxication: A non-UT subject was observed swerving and swaying heavily before he fell over. Compounding this dangerous behavior was the fact the subject was operating a bicycle on the sidewalk when all of this took place. The subject provided several different accounts as to who owned the bicycle and where he obtained it. The subject was found to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage to the point he was deemed to be a danger to himself and pedestrians. Occurred on 10/16/09 at 1:30 AM.
Interesting that the UTPD busted him in the downtown district. Guess the long arm of the UT law extends past the 40 acres.
UTPD Austin officers have told me (at meetings) that they cover all of Travis County.
Also, I would note that there are some UT offices downtown, including the UT System offices, so UTPD routinely surveys those areas. I think that 200 W. 6th St. is the address of a UT System office building.
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Note that anyone who visits the UT campus, including those who simply ride their bikes through, are welcome to register with UT for free:
http://www.utexas.edu/parking/transportation/biking/
My impression is that most thieves won't bother scraping off a registration sticker. Also, if you register it, then your bike's info is on file even if the sticker is scraped off.
The City of Austin will have a voluntary registration program soon, hopefully within the next year.
... two blocks (a few hundred feet?), less than an hour before the police nailed him.
I imagine (hope!) that UTPD ran the serial number when the bike was picked up, but shouldn't it have gone into a database for the police (APD?) to search when Keith reported it stolen?
Perhaps that requires a detective to actually investigate the case to check to see if the serial number showed up somewhere else? Perhaps APD and UTPD (and other agencies) don't actually share information like this?
What would have happened if nobody went to UT's lost and found and saw the bike? Would it have stayed there until the next UT auction (11 months or so?)
A detective hadn't been assigned to the case. that takes 7-10 days. it would have popped up in the system after that happened because i did file a report. however thanks to the keen eyes of lizzy and sam... i got my bike back in FOUR DAYS. I've been called an SOB, but that day I was a lucky SOB.
Everyone get their bike registered. Memorize your serial number (i did) and most importantly no matter what LOCK YOUR BIKE UP!!!!!!
Again, I want to thank each and everyone of you who had their eyes open for my bike. You are all great. It is a pleasure to be part of our community.
You might be suprized to find out how long the arms of the UT pigs are. They are STATE POLICE. As such their jurisdiction is all of Texas. Kinda like state troopers/dps. And yes, they can arrest ya anywhere in the state. And yes, I found out the hard way.
Dumbass drunks and downtube shifters don't mix.
... you crash, and your privates go flying towards those pointy things on the steering tube! Ow!
... were long enough to hit the down tube shifters, i would have a career in some movies that i sometimes watch.
Woo! Bike recovery win!
Do we know who the thief is? Can his ass be beaten?