RE-Cycle: Number 44!!!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Number 44!!!

Ahhh! One of the most rewarding aspects of our job is the occasional opportunity to recover stolen bikes! And yesterday was chock full of excitement! Last Thursday a gentleman came into the shop to ask if anyone had come in and tried to sell his bike. Seems he had it stolen off his front porch due to the unfortunate time that this one time he had left it unlocked as he went into his house briefly to grab something. He reported it to the police, then made the rounds to local pawn shops and us. He gave me a description, and was quite blunt in describing it as a "Piece of junk, with allot of sentimental value". As it was a rather unique bike (a Fuji Marlboro folding MTB) with electric tapped seat and brake grips, rusty parts, dry rotted tires, and faded paint not to mention his name gouged under the lower tube, I figured if I saw it I'd recognize it. Well yesterday, I did. One of our regular scrap dealers (and an unfortunate pawn of some of the younger low-life bike thieves) brought it by. All it took was a peek under the bike to see his name emblazoned across, that i informed the young man that "This bike was reported stolen,. and i have to impound it" I then gave him a lecture regarding his misplaced trust, and sent him on his way. In his defense though, he is developmentally challenged, and I have talked with his mother in the past at great lengths. He's a good kid, who helps supplement his mothers social security by picking up scrap, but according to her, associates with a bad crowd, they using his unassuming manner to try and pass off stolen goods. Sad really.
Well, anyway. As the gentleman had not left his personal contact info, but instead said "just call the police" if it came in, I did that. Thanks to the Clearwater police officers who came right quick (she's a fellow bike enthusiast and take their theft very seriously) and performed a search to locate the person matching the name on the bike. Relatively quickly locating him they put in a call, and before you knew it he was quickly here to identify "his baby". As the report was originally filed in Dunedin with the Sheriffs office, they needed to send a detective down to take the info. So at one point we had two Clearwater cruisers, and two Sheriffs office cruiser surrounding the store. Funny how their presence elicits such a "curious bystander" effect. One can only imagine what they thought! Now as proof of the old adage "a bike will always find it's owner" this was not the first time this bike was stolen. Seems it has traveled all over the country with this gentleman, and had been stolen once and then recovered in Arizona, and once in Las Vegas, where by chance a few weeks after having is taken and thought lost, he happened upon it in the possession of a homeless man savaging for aluminum cans. It obviously knows where it belongs!
Happy we could help reunite them!
And while I'm on the happy thoughts, thanks to all the folks who came out yesterday, filling my ears with such wonderful compliments. Especially the gent who gushed about our "service to the community" and was "glad we were here to stay". You have now idea how good it makes us feel that our efforts are noticed!
Well, my solo career has come to an end. As I have been blessedly beseeched with busyness these last few months I believed it behooved me to bring in beneficial bodies to boost our bustling business, by the by. A young man, John has begun yesterday, and the first thing I had him tackle was the organizing and prepping of parts! YAY! Now maybe I can start finding things again!
Also, after completing all the repairs I managed to get out only one new build! This one a simple "Daily Banger Special" (although needing a FULL re-furb). So check it out below, as I slide out of the "manager" seat and into the "mechanics" seat!
Have a great day!