Who says crooks are smart...?

[Lil bastard]

This is almost too weird.

Tonight, my wife and I went to see a movie. It was her choice and so she chose 'Mama Mia' (not really my thing, but as I said... her choice), all-in-all, not too awful for a chick flick (at least Pierce Brosnan, ex-James Bond was in it) .

It was such a nice night, we decided to take the bike (an '07 Moto Guzzi California). A neighborhood theatre, there was minimal street parking. But, there was an '07 Harley Davidson XL1200N Nightster in a space, so I decided to pull in, tail first, in the same spot.

The Harley was actually chained to a lamp pole with what looked to be about a 65lb. chain with a Kryptonite lock - overkill I thought.

Anyway, my wife brought a separate pair of shoes to change as she didn't want to be in her riding boots (suffering for ATGATT) through the whole film.

Well, in the confusion, what with changing shoes and stashing the helmets and jackets in the top and side cases etc., we went into the movie theatre and about an hour into the movie, I realized that I'd left the keys in the ignition (I carry my house keys on a separate ring and so didn't notice I was 'light'). So, I went out to retrieve them.

When I got there, thieves had cut out the light pole completely and taken it and the Harley, while my Guzzi sat 3 ft. away with the keys in the ignition !! Really dodged that bullet !!

Moto Guzzi California - MSRP $15,400

HD XL1200N Nightster - MSRP $9500

Who says crooks are smart...???

[bigb]

You are right - you did dodge a bullet, and crooks are indeed stupid. However, movies are probably the worst place to take a bike to (at least here in the bay area).

Not to threadcrap, but what I don't get is how come the cops don't do **************** about bikes being stolen. There are such a large number of bikes stolen, it has to be organized (esp. with how their 'economy' works).

[fragdude]

Wow.

Cutting a lamp post to get a bike? that seems kinda risky (I would assume there would be some traffic near a movie theater) while there are the keys to a bike right next to them.

Maybe they thought it belonged to someone....dangerous? who knows

[nola911]

Whoah whoah whoah now. The light pole was cut and taken with the bike???? What kind of light pole can be "cut" Im thinking of a 14 in x 20 ft pile timber when I think of a light pole. What kind of pole was this?

Maybe I live in a Utopian dream world where no crime occurs, but that seems a bit ridiculous.

[Lil bastard]

It was a cast iron or steel Street Lamp post w/ silicon lamp, probably 12'-15' tall (I live in an area which uses 'vintage' street lamps).

So far as I can tell, they must have used a carbide saw or wheel to get through it, at least that was the cop's specualtion.

Why they also took the lamp post is anyone's guess, scrap value? And, if they were using a carbide saw, why didn't they just cut the chain?

After the movie, we went out and the Harley owner, his GF, and the police were there. I only told them that I saw the bike there when we went in, had to go out to my bike an hour later and the bike (and light) were gone. I didn't want to advertise my stupidity, so I left out the part about leaving my keys.

The owner was totally despondent, and the cop was saying that they'd "had a few of these in the past couple months".

I told the owner not to fret... that's what his insurance was for, that he could have the Ins. co. call me if necessary, and we left.

[Lordblood]

Wow, I guess they were purely focusing on the Harley, maybe it has more street value?

It was nice of you to offer help to the guy who got his nice bike stolen, it must be a hard time, even if you know insurance will help you out.

[Brucelee]

Originally Posted by Lil bastard

This is almost too weird.

Tonight, my wife and I went to see a movie. It was her choice and so she chose 'Mama Mia' (not really my thing, but as I said... her choice), all-in-all, not too awful for a chick flick (at least Pierce Brosnan, ex-James Bond was in it) .

It was such a nice night, we decided to take the bike (an '07 Moto Guzzi California Special). A neighborhood theatre, there was minimal street parking. But, there was an '07 Harley Davidson XL1200N Nightster in a space, so I decided to pull in, tail first, in the same spot.

The Harley was actually chained to a lamp pole with what looked to be about a 65lb. chain with a Kryptonite lock - overkill I thought.

Anyway, my wife brought a separate pair of shoes to change as she didn't want to be in her riding boots (suffering for ATGATT) through the whole film.

Well, in the confusion, what with changing shoes and stashing the helmets and jackets in the top and side cases etc., we went into the movie theatre and about an hour into the movie, I realized that I'd left the keys in the ignition (I carry my house keys on a separate ring and so didn't notice I was 'light'). So, I went out to retrieve them.

When I got there, thieves had cut out the light pole completely and taken it and the Harley, while my Guzzi sat 3 ft. away with the keys in the ignition !! Really dodged that bullet !!

Moto Guzzi California Special - MSRP $15,400

HD XL1200N Nightster - MSRP $9500

Who says crooks are smart...???

Speculation. The Nightster is hot right now. The Guzi is an unknown for the average low life stealer.

Any way, you got lucky.