needed surveillance Cop help, stolen Cannondales/Specialized MTBs (hit 3 times incl last night)

[chimpanzee]

Rocky Mountain Slayer 70, upgraded w/Marzocchi Bomber dual-air fork

Cannondale F3000SL with Lefty front fork (upgraded to Deore XT crank w/external BB)

Cannondale F800, upgraded to Deore XTR (shifters, cranks, derailleurs)


Need Law Enforcement HELP!!

I understand there are Cops on this board, can you help me out?? Need surveillance team to lie in wait & NAB the scumbag bike thieves (likely bike theft ring, will RECOVER not only my bikes..but OTHER PEOPLE'S bikes!!) Could be a real Law Enforcement coup, make the news, etc

Got HIT at least 3 times (incl LAST NIGHT), they are DEFINITELY coming back TONIGHT (they left Cannondales, in their haste). They tried to open the large garage door, to EMPTY my entire garage of other goodies (more Cannondales, Treks, etc). They obviously have a truck or van, to make the getaway.

See below, just an AWFUL case of REPEAT bike-theft out of my garage -- my ENTIRE valuable MTB collection (irreplaceable, custom built..me & others)

Hi all:

I got an AWESOME bike collection -- Cannondales, Specialized, GT, etc. 80 bikes, scattered in garage, backyard. Like Cannondale F3000 SL ($3k new), Rocky Mountain Slayer 70 ($3000, upgraded Marzochhi Bomber upgraded dual air fork), Specialized

TERRIBLE NEWS. I was gone for 4 weeks, come back yesterday noon to find my gate latch BROKEN. Bikes scattered in backyard, bike thieves in hurry..left stuff behind. My steel door/frame in garage got jimmied..crooks were "kids in candy store", started emptying it full of my MTB goodies!!

GET THIS:
They came back LAST NIGHT (even after I fixed the broken gate latch, locked it up), HOPPED the 6 ft tall fence. Whoah!! Got in garage (past the STEEL door & frame), threw bikes over fence (with helper on the other side). They must have made a ton of noise, there were bikes SCATTERED everywhere!!

They even tried to open the large door (for car-entry), but FAILED. I.E., they attempted to EMPTY the entire garage (filled with like 30 odd bikes, all collectibles -- tuned up & restored). They even left a Cannondale F400 in my backyard, they were obviously in a hurry to leave.

The above is obviously work by professional bike theft ring. Not homeless people looking to find a bike here-and-there, for drug $$.

Here is a REAL OPPORTUNITY for Pasadena Cops to do surveillance, & catch these SCUMBAGS!! Hopefully, get most (if not all) bikes back. Probably, get bikes from OTHER victims back!!

NBC TV did a sting, put a vulnerable GPS-equipped bike in Metrorail Red station (N. Hollywood), got swiped, then found it.. Was a house, with backyard FILLED with stolen bikes. People got arrested.

CONUNDRUM:
I'm getting a HELL of a lot of bureaucratic red-tape from Pasadena Cops. The 1st cop who showed up yesterday, didn't even file a Police Report. WTF. He kept harping on me getting alarms, surveillance cameras, etc. He even has a road & MTB, likes Trek. You would think he would be more receptive to my situation!!

I TOLD HIM, that City of Santa Monica (bike friendly city) has GIVEN UP on pursuing bike-theft cases -- bike thieves KNOW THIS, so it's "open season" on bike theft there (incl Venice). I see poor victims (on Craigslist) BEGGING for their cool bikes, they park for like 15 min in downtown Santa Monica -- swoosh, it's GONE!

Apparently, same case for other cities. I'm getting a "runaround" by Pasadena Police. I called them this morning (after last night's mega theft -- got my REALLY HIGH END goodies -- Canndonale F3000SL & Rocky Mountain Slayer 70 (both valued $3000 & more). He gave me his business card, phone #, & I CONVINCED HIM to get someone higher up (Watch Commander, Detectives, etc) to do something

Pro-Active tonight (surveillance, undercover cop in my backyard, etc)

Except, Watch Commander can't help (only shootings & car-chases, etc)..so I got re-directed to Detectives. Answering machines, finally got a human who said:

"we don't even have a detective assigned to it"

AAARGH. Likely, NO CHANCE of setting up something tonight (surveillance & NAB these scumbags!!)

So, now it's "Street Justice".

1) I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee with bull-bar (I fabbed/welded it from 1/8" steel tubing)
I could wedge their car (blocking escape), possibly RAM it (disabling car). But, this opens door to some really SKETCHY scenario -- possible altercation (they may have guns & knives). Physical altercation is NOT my strength..!! (I have a .38, but never used it..EVER). I suppose I could shoot out at least 2 tires (possibly more) to disable their getaway truck/van. Or, just RAM it like the cops do (pit maneuver). But, this opens up other liability issues (I might be labelled as aggressor..not good)

2) lie in wait in backyard, & then MACE THEM
might disable them, but it opens door to altercation (see above). They could have guns & knives, I might end up hurt (or killed)

3) throw a spiderman net over them, disabling them
Is there such a thing?

4) Close the steel door behind them, thus locking them in the garage.
I don't know if I could pull this off, sounds risky. Their helper (outside the fence) could get involved


Obviously, the above is kinda amateur-hour. But, HELL..the Pasadena Cops AIN'T doing their job. Chris sakes, at least THREE incursions, plus the fact that I'm on a busy street in Pasadena (major east-west thorough fare), & they can't GET THESE SCUMBAGS!!?? There's a Pasadena street moto cop parked RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE, ensnaring poor PCC (Pasadena City College) kids for "running red light" tickets. City of Pasadena is in cahoots with Pasadena Cops, they set this busy intersection with SHORT green light. Coupled with antsy college students (in a hurry), OF COURSE they occasionally run red lights. Wee-WEE, I hear cop sirens ENTIRE MORNING -- Pasadena Cops found a "cash cow" (at expense of poor college students). WTF.

I will say, that I had a sweet Fuji Panic hardtail SNATCHED out of my garage (before I went with steel door/frame), the SAME DAY the moto-cop was pulling the above shenanigans!! Jesuses, it seems as if it's

NOT ONLY the bike thief scumbags, but the INEFFECTIVE Pasadena Police

At this point, it's

Every Man for Himself

I.e., the cops (on taxpayer payroll) are useless. Probably the same in all towns in SoCal.

What to do?? Armed encampments for houses. Dogs, electrical barbed wire (what they do in S. Africa, I've BEEN THERE), armed to the teeth. My S. African hosts (formerly Africanadrenalin.com) are now gun dealers, for arming citizens:

"Violent crime in S Africa is VERY COMMON"
-- Chris, S. African friend of mine (2002)

[ some guy in a group that invited me, returned home..got hit by home-invasion robbery -- WAS KILLED!! A female tourist there (in a similar group) was RAPED. I was in Zambia (north of S. Africa) in 2001 & my driver/guide in Toyota Landcruiser was EXTREMELY PARANOID about crime!! He warned of crooks with "Banga sticks" (machetes), he always erred towards safety. One time I entered the car (while night observing the sky), & he JOLTED UP SUDDENLY, ready to fend of attackers!! ]

My S. African guide told me that he keeps gun under the seat, since downtown Johannesburg is a "free for all"-- you stop at a traffic light, you could get CAR JACKED by gun!! He actually had to do this in Jo'burg -- pull the gun out & point it at a black guy..who was approaching him menacingly (about to car-jack him)

I'm beginning to think that USA is turning into S. Africa

[ giving it back to the blacks, DISRUPTING white-based "stability". The S. African Land Rover forum jokingly refers it to "Equal Opportunity Crime". Just north of S. Africa, Robert Mugabe is running Zimbabwe "into the ground", white farmers are getting "moved out" w/violence (getting beat up). As result, the stable economy is RUINED -- Zim is a MESS, with S. Africa following suit.. ]

with all the societal "DISRUPTION" in America

 

[chimpanzee]

Please read below. I've got a MAJOR trouble-maker in my neighborhood (redneck named Butch & immediate family) -- other neighbor's have lost bikes, moved away, etc. Cops can't STOP this animal (thieves get probation, not jail). If anyone can offer solutions, I'm open for suggestions..


UPDATE:

A nice woman Marina 1 block away just stopped by yesterday afternoon. Turns out her father was a long-time Pasadena PD officer & has connections with Pasadena PD. Her 2 bikes got STOLEN last week -- road & MTB!! She knows about this trouble-maker (lives across the street from me), a redneck named Butch .. boyfriend to the Mimi (daughter of mother, they are both long-time residents). My next door neighbor told me (recently) there were a bunch of Pasadena PD cop cars at this house (across from me), making an ARREST!! Daughter for some probation violation?

This Butch character took Marina's Yamaha street motorcycle, & rode off!! Then, came back with it 2 hrs later. WTF. The guy is just a juvenile delinquent, masked as an adult.

Many years ago, Butch got BEATEN UP in front of my house by a bunch of hispanic guys. I thought someone was gonna get killed, I called 911. Butch had apparently crashed their party, & caused a ruckus. (Marina tells me Butch goes around getting drunk & causing trouble). My house had been broken in back in '93, over 14K worth of stuff was taken (!!). I went around to the neighbors asking for info/help. The daughter Mimi (across the street, whose boyfriend is Butch) told me:

"Butch wanted to break into my house, through the chimney"

!!! She told me she had seen me with fancy astronomy equipment (I'm a famous amateur astronomer), & was observing me. Another guy told me that Butch was a REAL SQUIRRELY character.

Their immediate neighbor had to MOVE AWAY, because of this trouble-maker family -- constant arguments was very disruptive. They even went there & shouted "I will SUE you if you [ ruckus due to fighting ] jeopardize our home sale!!". The current resident (who unfortunately got sucked into home purchase) told me the SAME THING -- constant ruckus (fighting/yelling) is making his life miserable.

BOTTOMLINE:
Our peaceful neighborhood (near Caltech, pretty nice residential area) is being RUINED by a well known trouble-maker ("animal"). Cops know about them, they told me Butch had felony conviction for possession of stolen property. I just got a call from a Pasadena Cop today (he patrols this area), real nice guy. I asked him about how Butch can "get away" with this ?? (why isn't he in jail for chrissakes) He told me thieves usually get probation (!!), not jail (because of prison overcrowding -- saved for murderers & kidnappings)

This Butch character is like an ANIMAL.. He looks & acts like one. I'm about to goto ALL my neighbors & setup a private Yahoo! group to network towards

Neighborhood Watch

I.E., share information to help security/safety in our immediate area. The Pasadena Cops & Courts sure as heck can't stop Butch -- mind boggling about the DYSFUNCTION of USA (local/state/federal). Similar to the DYSFUNCTION of immigration situation in USA -- a god awful chaotic mess.

My neighbors are all FED UP with these trouble-makers. Some have MOVED. Many have had been victims of theft -- my current tally for lost MTBs (collectibles) is approaching 30K !!! (they also took ALL of my tools, incl new Makita impact-driver & hammer drill) Not to mention the 14K worth of photo equipment lost in '93. (along with Makita chop saw, air compressor, etc). The taken items show a preference to a blue-collar type of thief demographic (esp the tools), the which matches Butch's profile.

Cops told me back in '93, that thieves usually RETURN -- since they are comfortable with victim's property layout. That, if they decide to BREAK INTO a property -- NOTHING can stop them. The "target" is helpless, barring turning their home/property into a freakin' FORTRESS. Yes, I'm about to follow my S. African hosts (in suburban Johannesburg) with ELECTRIC BARBED WIRE!! That would be a deterrent to Butch's cronie redneck friends.

I've never been a gun person, but I sure as heck am motivated NOW!! It's the last resort, the cops can't ensure my security/safety. My next door neighbor (previous to the current one)..East LA Hispanic guy (very intelligent, HS teacher) -- his family's background is Law Enforcement. He used to go sneaking around his backyard investigating strange noises with a GUN (!!) I always thought that was "over the top". However, given my current crisis I can kinda understand his "attitude"!!

Another neighbor across the street (Nacho) is a Corrections Officer. Nice guy, he spent time listening to my woes. He told me:

"If I catch a thief on my property he/she will get SHOT."

I was at Home Depot, where the (female) cashier was a Criminal Justice major. She told me that

"residents have a RIGHT to defend their property, you can approach a thief with gun. If they make a move (threatening you), you have a LEGAL RIGHT to shoot them. The stuff about cops warning residents about NOT doing this (possibly getting SUED by their & losing your house), is just that they don't want the further hassle"

I've lived my ENTIRE LIFE pretty peaceful, minding-my-own-business. But, given recent "developments" I CAN'T just be passive & get RAPED. I feel like a Bill Cosby female victim -- the "bad guy" is running rampant (protected by BS laws & legal maneuvering, to protect criminals..what about victims??) making our life miserable. Looks like Cosby is going to get his "due". But, at the expense of great suffering by his (many) victims.

I'm going to follow the lead of my former next door neighbor (East LA Hispanic, whose family background is in Law Enforcement), & my S. African hosts (Africanadrenalin.com). Get gun savvy (incl training), be READY to defend my property (& myself). The RETURN of these "animals" last night was REAL SCARY. They hopped the 6 ft fence, gained entry into garage, ransacked the garage (made considerable noise), tried to open entry door to CLEAN IT OUT (more Cannondales, etc). Pitched the 2 high-end bikes (Cannondale F3000SL & Rocky Mountain Slayer 70) over the 6 ft fence (to an accomplice), likely had a truck/van to haul it away. Left a Cannondale F400 in the backyard, in their haste. Myself & couple of my neighbors commented "I CAN'T BELIEVE they came back", esp knowing that I had returned (I fixed the broken latch, & secured it with a U lock).

They tried to get into my house (steel door & frame), there were tools lying around trying to disassemble the steel frame (!!). As per cops, I'm a target (lots of goodies) & they will LIKELY RETURN

Sorry about the sob story. Hopefully, it will help others (who are in similar situation of stolen bikes from garage). In the end, I dropped my "guard" -- my defense system had holes. The POS crooks sniffed them out -- LOOK what happened!!

EVERYONE:

PLEASE do a "de-brief"of your home-security, esp bikes. If you have bikes in garage, put a steel cable loop (from Home Depot) around them. Better yet, U-lock them to a steel pipe bolted to the garage frame. I had a female friend who lost a cool Peugeot MTB (which I had setup for her), to a neighborhood kid (sketchy character). It hurt me, since I had spent CONSIDERABLE TIME finding .. then re-building/prepping the bike.

 

[chimpanzee]

I mentioned my S. African offroad hosts (they owned a Land Rover shop), Lynette & Paul Oxley. Great people, both college educated. Good article on gun ownership (towards defending yourself, property..incl bikes). Very relevant to "big city" LA/Suburbs & crime (incl bike theft):

http://www.valuationup.com/blog/2013/08/the-tac-shac-story/

Enter Paul and Lynette Oxley, owners of Tac SHAC – a Johannesburg-based business that has become very successful at selling what are known as ‘tactical’ weapons – typically high-end semi-auto pistols, semi-auto shotguns and semi-auto rifles/carbines that are the civilian versions of military weapons systems.

Guns and the right to bear arms is an issue that divides people; it’s a sharp fence that doesn’t bear sitting on. So while there may be readers who don’t support the legal right of a person to bear arms, I hope to tell you a story of how an entrepreneur enters a really tough industry and succeeds – please take what you can from the Tac SHAC story.

The Tac SHAC story starts with Paul – whose parents didn’t have guns but he grew fascinated by them, to the degree that he sold his racing bike to buy his first gun while still at high school. Then came military service after which he started studying law and then philosophy at university, and invested some savings into a gun shop. Those savings disappeared when sanctions effectively blocked imports from the USA and the gun-shop closed.

Along the way Paul met Lynette and he sold some guns to pay for her engagement ring. At university Paul started a shooting club and offered training courses to staff and students alike. He got involved in the founding of SAGA (the South African Gun Owners Association) and became active in the administration of sport shooting in SAPSA (The SA Practical Shooting Association). Over the years they both maintained an active interest in sports shooting, but worked in other industries.

[ including AFricanadrenalin.com, a Land Rover offroad shop. I rented out a Toyota Landcruiser from them, for 2002 solar eclipse ]

Skip forward 20 years and Paul and Lynette are still active sports shooters. Paul is now a main mover behind GOSA (the Gun Owners of SA) and following an attempted armed robbery at their home decide to pivot from their African safari tour-operation business into the world of tactical firearms – something that is clearly a lifelong passion for them.

Whilst both Paul and Lynette share an almost evangelical belief that society is best served by a well-armed and trained civilian population, and they live out their belief by drawing ‘non-traditional’ sectors into sport shooting, it is Lynette who is often sought out by would-be gun owners precisely because its so rare to find a lady so immersed in shooting and the gun culture.

You can see pics of Lynette & Paul on my 2002 solar eclipse page:

http://www.eclipse-chaser.com/2002

S. Africa is a really interesting place esp for tourism (excluding the high incidence of violent crime) -- dangerous animals (lions, hippos, rhinos, leopards, black & green mamba snakes, etc) makes the snake-fear in this forum laughable!!) motorcycle safaris (you gotta check it out), etc. Warm Indian ocean to the East (via Mozambique) is a popular destination. Paul/Lynette went there to observe 2002 solar eclipse. Other AA (African Adrenalin) clients went to Botswana (immediate north of S. Africa), ruled by an "enlightened" govt. I highly recommend Botswana, if you're looking for a safari experience. E.G. Chobe National Park in N. Botswana, just south of Zambia border. I was there, after observing 2001 solar eclipse in NW Zambia (near border w/Angola)

 

[evdog]

 

[portlypeddler]

Whoa, Nancy Reagan was right!

(Picture egg in skillet)

 

[chimpanzee]

GET THIS:

There is a 180 degree surveillance camera (diagonally) across the street -- it should have caught the crooks.

 

[trailninja]

Wow. Keep us posted on the developments. I hope you recover your bikes!

 

[chimpanzee]

Wow. Keep us posted on the developments. I hope you recover your bikes!

I went to the 2 nearby bike shops in Pasadena, they will take my list of bikes. Probably waste of time, the bikes likely transporter elsewhere (north & south) to warehouse. Then, sold. Or kept..the bikes were all TUNED & restored/gone-through (wheels trued, hubs re-built & re-greased), they will never be brought to a bike shop for tune-up.

The bike shop owner mentioned a Santa Cruz based ring of bike thieves, who stored stolen bikes in warehouses..then sold up north (incl Craigslist?) There was that N. Hollywood Metrorail Red Line "sting" (GPS equipped bike), which nabbed 2 brothers & cousin. Stolen bikes in backyard.

I just discovered today, that my 2 folding bikes were GONE!! They also took a sweet Sony stereo from my 4x4. ALL my tools are gone -- sweet Craftsman set of open wrenches (metric & US), Gerber folding knives (!! out of my other 4x4). They have an affinity for bikes, stereos, tools -- gives them away as blue-collar demographic.

I talked to my brother-in-law, who grew up with guns. He recommended an 18# shotgun (short-range), not crazy penetrations (which could hit innocent people & houses) in a "gun fight". I decided I have to show some "teeth" -- these crooks are probably LAUGHING at me ("easy mark"). I need to fire a shotgun in the air, as they are in the act. An off-road friend of mine in N. Hollywood did JUST THAT, when crooks tried something at his 4x4 van at 2am in the morning. Another friend in West LA (apartment complex), also did JUST THAT -- fired a shotgun in the air at oncoming thieves. His neighbors the next day just looked at him kinda in awe (heheheh..)

I guess I will enter the world of "guns" (which I've purposely stayed away from). All my offroad friends (rock crawlers & desert-racers) are pretty much into guns, some even carry to Baja for the Baja races (like the recent Baja 500 last weekend). A no-no, if u get caught the Federalis get upset..arrest likely. The "power vacuum" of Mexican drug cartel has created some DANGEROUS situations in Baja. I actually ran into some "masked Federalis" near Valle de Trinidad off Hwy 3 (between Ensenada & San Felipe). This, so as not to reveal their identity to the EXTREMELY DANGEROUS drug lords & cronies. Some have been trained by US Special Forces (for the drug wars), only to DEFECT to the drug lords ("sold out for $$") .. the infamous Zetas.

If any of you are gun savvy & give some recommendations (related to combatting bike theft) -- please post.

 

[chimpanzee]

Here's my "sting" operation plan. Lie in wait a block away in my 4x4. See crooks come in (call 911 for the cops), with surveillance video has evidence. Drive swiftly to getaway vehicle, quickly open the door & use shotgun to flatten 1 (or more) tires. Speed off, wait for cops (with flashers on) -- I would inform cops the "flashers" are me (good guy). They can't drive the disabled vehicle, they will have to run on foot. Got their plates (assuming they're not take or stolen ones), to lead cops to their place. Hopefully, recover bikes (mine & others).

In the above, there IS the risk of gun-play (they could have guns & shoot back). But, if I do it RIGHT (be real quick/aggressive) -- catch them by surprise, then I think it's a good plan. I don't want any shooting of humans -- that could exacerbate into bigger problems (liability, getting sued by the freakin' crooks..!!??)

I fabricate & weld my own 1/8" mild steel bumpers, it's a beefy thing. Could pull a "cop pit maneuver" no problem -- my front bumper is WAY stronger than the spindly push thing used by cops. 3/16" rectangular stock (mild steel) with

- 1/4" plate brackets (bolted to frame)
- 1/8" tubing (2" & 1.75")

I accidentally rear-ended a sedan back in 2002, the rear ended up like an accordion. My front bumper & 4x4 (6600 lbs, 3 tons) was basically untouched.

My friend with 4x4 van (who used his shotgun to scare away a thief) fabbed/welded his triple tube front bumper (1/8" wall). He accidentally bumped into the garage (crushed wood plaster) -- didn't even take the paint off the bumper.

I toyed with the plan of ramming their truck (or van), which probably would be full-size (to haul away SO many bikes). At least frontal, to damage radiator (overheat engine, then disable car). But, that might invite gun-play -- they could shoot me frontally. It then might be a stale-mate (battle of 2 full-size trucks 2.5 tons curb weight). I definitely want to go into it "ahead of the curve". Just like David McCampbell (US Navy WWII ace, Congressional Medal of Honor):

"Most air kills are done from behind (e.g. with sun to attackers back)-- the victim never knew what hit him"

I even worked out a scenario involving cop-like pit maneuver (with all the televised cop chases). Whoah..chance for collateral damage (hitting parked cars, etc). Not cool. My insurance could be jeopardized. However, if I see a "clean shot" (in open area)..yeah, I would nick a corner with my heavy-duty bumper. Spin out the bastards

I also would need to mod my bumper for above type of "action". Like the crowbar design for SCORE Trophy Trucks. They are designed for NERFING -- unwritten rule of conduct, to push a stubborn/slower vehicle (who doesn't pull over for a faster pursuing truck)

See below pics. The blue Trophy Truck is Riviera Racing. I actually bought a GT frame (full suspension) off Mark Post's IT guy, the crooks did NOT take that particular bike. Beautiful ball-burnished frame with sweet Manitou Mars fork & Rock Shox rear shock. Whew.

 

[da big hills]

old thread but Monday I saw a guy with 4 brand new 26ers on his shopping cart of recyclables. They may not have been new but the tires were jet black and the rims were shining.
Happy trails

 

[achen]

Never fire a warning shot. You will go to jail. If you fire a gun it should be to protect your life and you should shoot to stop the person. Practice with your gun. I personally would not use a shotgun, but that is me. I know in cali you are heavily limited in what you can buy to defend yourself.

Easy cameras are dropcams, they are wifi, and send to the cloud. You can set them to alert you as soon as they detect motion. Alternately you can install simplisafe which is an easy to install security system. It can text you when a sensor is triggered. I have them on my garage doors as my built in system didnt have any sensors on the garage doors. Simplisafe also includes a motion detector.

 

[chimpanzee]

Never fire a warning shot. You will go to jail. If you fire a gun it should be to protect your life and you should shoot to stop the person. Practice with your gun. I personally would not use a shotgun, but that is me. I know in cali you are heavily limited in what you can buy to defend yourself.

Whoah. I would go with the warning shot to FREEZE the bad guys. Otherwise, they would take the offensive, possibly disarm me. The warning shot would give them incentive to retreat (or give up)

I wouldn't shoot the person (why I would do warning shot), the crook would goto an "ambulance chasing lawyer" -- I could lose the house. As per an example the Pasadena cops told me:

"thief had his 2 legs broken, he sued..victim lost his house"

WTF! Then, there is the advice to make sure you end up killing the crook (requiring additional shots). Which could invoke "excessive force", putting victim in more deep sh*t. Plus, the crooks immediate cronies (family & possible gang bangers) would probably "pay back" -- shoot or kill the home owner. Latter is something I DEFINITELY don't want as an "end game" I got quality projects going on (Tech startups), etc.

"Stay above the Fray"

I don't want to stoop down to their level. It's a real shame, it's come down to this. Ineffective Enforcement:

- police
they are stretched thin, can't cover entire area. It's STILL mind-boggling the crooks can make MULTIPLE penetrations (lots of activity, noisy, etc), without cops spotting it. I'm on a busy street (where police cruisers use)..for chrissake!!

- ineffective Legal System
only probation for thieves due to prison overcrowding, allowing them to thrive like rats

..which can be traced to FAILED LEADERSHIP (local, state, federal). They're supposed to create a prosperous platform for citizens. Thieves may be folk who simply can't find legit work (due to Corporate Oligarchy of US Govt, Almighty Dollar rules the Govt), & have to turn to crime.

Easy cameras are dropcams, they are wifi, and send to the cloud. You can set them to alert you as soon as they detect motion. Alternately you can install simplisafe which is an easy to install security system. It can text you when a sensor is triggered. I have them on my garage doors as my built in system didnt have any sensors on the garage doors. Simplisafe also includes a motion detector.

Thanks for the leads. The neighbor (next door to the trouble-maker Butch), has a WiFi camera. He can watch them LIVE on his smartphone.

 

[trailninja]

https://shadowhawkflashlights.com/ss1/index.php?AFID=12&SID=GM

I saw this online. Lol.

 

[Heyitsdave]

I can only picture a homeless person being interested in riding those bikes.

 

[chimpanzee]

Never fire a warning shot. You will go to jail. If you fire a gun it should be to protect your life and you should shoot to stop the person. Practice with your gun. I personally would not use a shotgun, but that is me. I know in cali you are heavily limited in what you can buy to defend yourself.

This is so nuts. Cops are "playing it by the book", while the crooks are running rampant breaking-the-law. It seems as if the crooks rights are being protected, the victim is "getting the shaft".

But the WHOLE damn thing bigger-picture wise points to the Cops as "part of the problem"!! The Incompetence I've experienced with them is just STUNNING. The 1st responding cop on Sunday (day I arrived back home) NEVER filed a Police Report, & HE was a bicyclist himself (road & MTB). I asked him for surveillance unit THAT NIGHT -- he refused..sure enough, the CROOKS CAME BACK:

even surprising me, they had to HOP a 6 ft fence, get into garage, ransack more bikes (making lots of noise), pitch bike over 6 ft fence (to waiting accomplice), load bikes, drive off. You would think Pasadena Cops would have CAUGHT them in-the-act, in the 4 odd break-ins. I live on a BUSY street, major east-west thoroughfare in Pasadena

Then, I had to push like heck to get Detective assigned to my case. I ended up a really INCOMPETENT detective, bad attitude. I told him about the security camera (junior college directly across the street), he called their Security & got WRONG INFORMATION!! He called me back saying that camera was broken. NO!! The dispatcher for college security himself was an IDIOT (he mistook the parking structure camera..which was OUT). I made confirmation call back to college Security, & discovered the MISTAKE. I called the detective back, & VENTED at him (given the above 1st cop who didn't do a police report). He hung up on me, then I called him back. He hung up on me AGAIN!!

I actually have a case against these Pasadena PD. I should SUE them for $$, that would go a long way in relieving me of this loss.

BTW, I had a Fuji Panic hardtail "lifted out" of my garage a few yrs ago (that's when I upgrade to steel door & frame). The crook went into my backyard from the side, in FRONT of a Pasadena Moto-cop (parked in front of my house) giving out BS tickets to poor college students. The stoplight was a short green light, DELIBERATELY setup that way to pressure hurried students to run a red light. EVERY Wednesday, I heard the sirens go off for like 2 hrs, Pasadena moto cops making ticket revenue off poor college students!! Where the F** were the cops here, & in my above situation?? While back, I observed a Pasadena cop car parked in a dark side street at 2am, officer sleeping. Obviously, grave yard shift means officers have skewed sleep schedules. This could be used as evidence for above lawsuit.

Q: Why weren't the cops around for my 3-4 break-ins?
A: Because they're SLEEPING ON THE JOB..that's why!!!

I'm just speechless at this point. I spent 2 hrs yesterday, interviewing more neighbors. It's pretty clear Neighborhood Watch IS the way to go, can't depend on the cops. Neighbors need to look out for one another.

Easy cameras are dropcams, they are wifi, and send to the cloud. You can set them to alert you as soon as they detect motion. Alternately you can install simplisafe which is an easy to install security system. It can text you when a sensor is triggered. I have them on my garage doors as my built in system didnt have any sensors on the garage doors. Simplisafe also includes a motion detector.

I just met a guy at Sears pickup. He told me what you're telling me. Even shooting their getaway-car tires out (while thieves are on my property), can get me arrested..??!! WTF. He was saying the idiotic school shootings have created restrictive gun use laws. Jeezes F**

I WILL say the responding cops have some *flexibility* (esp if they're friends with you). I had a Watch Commander say:

"Sure, we'll KICK A DOOR DOWN FOR YOU to get your stuff back" [ breaking the law, rogue cops ]
"I've been reprimanded for Excessive Use of Force twice"

after I made friends with him (over $14K worth of stuff stolen out of my house). I.E., we're talking police corruption here.. (whoah)

That guy told me some guy broke into his house, he approached thief with 9mm automatic, asked him to drop his gun (he didn't), shot the guy twice in his head..DEAD. Whoah!! I asked him if his gang-banger friends then "came back" at him for payback. But, he said no. Now, this is the kinda crap I DEFINITELY want to avoid. Gunplay, homicide, dead bleeding body, possible retaliation by crook's cronies, etc. I've lived a CLEAN LIFE (no drugs, no drinking, no arrests), so I'd like to KEEP IT THAT WAY!!

I WOULD like to recover my stolen bikes, so if I could setup my own personal "sting operation" & find the offending crooks (house with stolen bikes in backyard) -- yeah, I'd do that. I'm a pretty persistent/intense person, I usually get what I want. Instead of shooting out tires, get dash cam (getting license plate #), follow the crooks, put flashers on, call 911, tell them I'm good guy (flashers on), let them take over the chase.. I WOULD consider a pit-maneuver, given my 4x4 has beefy custom-built (by me) push bar -- 1/8" wall, fully reinforced & bolted to frame. I can EASILY nudge corner of their vehicle & SPIN IT OUT. However, it could result in damaged parked vehicles (as per police chases). I would take the "liability" (via insurance), just to get my vast bike collection back.

At this point, maybe it's just better to MOVE ON. Get Insurance to handle it (towards purchase of other MTBs). ALL of the bikes were 26" (which according to serious MTB'ers are out-dated, given the 27.5") However, some of them had some REALLY sweet parts, like the

- All-Mountain Rocky Mountain Slayer 70 (with an upgraded Marzocchi Bomber dual-air fork w/LO)
- Trek Fuel Z full-suspension with RockShox Reba Air SL (remote LO) front fork, Rockshox rear shock (w/LO)
- Cannondale F400 with upgraded Foxshox RLC front fork

 

[trailninja]

BBC News: Bicycle thief suspect lassoed by rancher in Oregon Bicycle thief suspect lassoed by rancher in Oregon - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36506090

 

[achen]

even in texas with our strong castle doctrine you do not fire a warning shot. You only shoot to stop a threat. Shooting out tires is not easy at all (you better practice a lot) and is also illegal not to mention risky as your bullets that miss will keep going.

If you shoot someone you are going to pay a minimum of 40K to defend yourself even if justified, you can buy a lot of bikes with that kind of money.

 

[chubacabra]

https://shadowhawkflashlights.com/ss1/index.php?AFID=12&SID=GM

I saw this online. Lol.

this one is 1,000 lumens

https://www.amazon.com/Flashlight-B...014&sr=8-16&keywords=highest+lumen+flashlight

 

[hobie]

that was too long. whats the cliff notes?

 

[un-kola]

that was too long. whats the cliff notes?

He wants his 25 year old obsolete bikes back. -Lloyd