rampant bike thieves

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

There are some serious bike thieves on or around Willow Avenue.

After parking my bike in front of the house for a year, nothing happened until last week, when someone stole my wheel. It was an old Trek, and time for an upgrade anyway, but still really annoying.

So then I got a newer bike from Craigslist. I bought a cable, which I've wrapped through my wheels in addition to the U Lock I was already using. At night I brought the bike inside EVERY night but Saturday. Saturday the downpour was so bad, and I was busy, so I flaked on bringing the bike inside.

Sunday I was ready to ride my bike to the Union Square flea market, only to discover that the seat was missing.

I understand now that I will ALWAYS have to park my bike inside at night. But I find it ironic that after living on Columbia St. in Cambridge for 4 years (an area where people shook their heads in dismay upon me telling them I lived "across from the projects"), the worst theft has happened right here on friendly Willow.

Comments

[caveatlector-09.livejournal.com]

So sorry that happened to you! I don't think it's a new problem though. When I lived on Willow Ave (about 2 years ago, my bike was taken from my front porch and then left on the bikepath! (It was amazing that I found it before anyone else did).

Willow *is* very friendly, but there are still a bunch of punk kids in the area. Good luck!

[purpless77.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry this happened. Definitely keep bringing your bike in at night.
But, I'm honestly surprised that anybody would leave their bike out. You live in the city and while it's not Compton it's still a city. Don't look at any area as being "friendly". A lot of crime is hit or miss. You may have had a good experience living in Cambridge while someone else on your street might not have had such a good experience. I can't stress this stuff enough here. Protect yourself and protect your belongings. Always be cautious. It's better to be safe then sorry.

[leko.livejournal.com]

That sucks. A friend who has been staying with me was locking her bike up out in front of my place on central street. I advised her against it, but it was fine for a while. Then last week someone stole her rear wheel.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Just out of curiosity (and to gauge the value of my own level of paranoia with regards to my bike) was this a quick-release bike seat?

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

That totally sucks. We don't really have a lot of room to keep ours in the house, but we do. Better than losing them, or having to replace pieces of them all the time.

But you know that and I am not preaching, just commiserating.

[suzybuzz.livejournal.com]

or you could always post that you saw it on LJ!i will post weird occurrences from now on. i'm amazed that we made the connection! small town, indeed