Anyone that’s ridden a bike for at least a few years has had to confront the feeling. You know, that sinking pit in your stomach when you realize someone has taken your beloved bike.
I noticed a recent post on Craigslist about how local bike thieves are starting to run amok. They’re getting more and more brazen and some local cyclists feel helpless. Turns out the guy that made that post, is the same guy who got his bike stolen (they cut his U-Lock!) in broad daylight at the Chunkathalon with hundreds of people milling around.
So what can cyclists do?
Should we take the law into our own hands and start doing vigilante-style sting operations?
Is is moral/ethical to lure unsuspecting thieves into staged traps then beat them to a pulp apprehend them until authorities arrive?
What have your experiences been with reporting stolen bikes to the police?
What are some other ways we as a community can deal with this problem?