gridlore | I am going to FUCKING KILL SOMEONE!

Current Mood: pissed off
Current Location: San Jose, Ca 95118
Current Music: Sunday Night Football

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I am going to FUCKING KILL SOMEONE!

My bicycle was stolen - again! I had it locked right outside the freaking door. A good cable lock wrapped through the frame and both wheels attached to our iron railing. I locked it up there because my last bike was stolen from our locked garage.

I guess I have to fucking sleep with the damn thing!

Fuck this neighborhood. I've had it with this damn barrio where my lovely neighbors think that smashing bottles is amusing and that we all want to hear the sounds of Mexico. They can all go to hell, or go home, whichever is worse for them. I suppose I could call the cops, but the last time I got the impression that tracking stolen bikes was less than a priority for the SJPD.

Damnit, we just sank almost a hundred bucks into that bike!

kshandra is checking to see if our renter's insurance will cover the loss. Luckily, I have the model of both the bike, and the really cool lights we just added.

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can you guys afford to move?

It has just become my number one priority.

I'm sorry. That really sucks.

Renters should cover it. But the question would be, what's the deductible? Will there be anything they'll pay after subtracting that?

We've got a $100 deductible, so we'll get about half the value of bike + accessories.

SJPD doesn't do jack shit about ANYTHING these days. It sucks, because a couple of my administration of justice professors are ex-SJPD, and I don't dare say exactly how effective the department is *eyeroll* I hope your renter's insurance covers it...:-/

Oh no!! I'm so sorry. :( That really reeks.

What the FUCK?

That is so amazingly sucky :(

I feel your pain. When my wife & I lived in an apartment in West Philadelphia back in the late 80s, I locked my nice new mountain bike to the wrought iron fence outside the door. This worked for about a month, then one morning I found that the front wheel of my bike was gone. I bitched mightily, then replaced the wheel and gear assembly (a $100 investment), and used a Kryptonite lock to secure it to two (2) of the wrought iron bars. A week later, I found that the thieves had cut apart the wrought iron fence and taken the bike, lock and all.

After that, I got another bike (I had to get to and from work somehow), and this time I shlepped it up to and down from our third floor apartment every day. Given the (lack of) size of our apartment, this was a less than optimal solution; however, it did keep the bike secure.

Aren't lower class neighborhoods just so wonderful?

had to get to and from work somehow
Another argument against environmentally friendly transit: cops sometimes notice stolen cars.

Don't move here. Same reason.

Damn. My complete sympathies.

Major bummer! If a locked garage doesn't help and locking it tightly right in front of the front door doesn't help, I really don't have any answers.
Locked Tightly inside the Locked Garage?
But unfortunately there are rude idiots, who think what's yours is mine, in all neighborhoods. Just less of them in the High Rent district. But then you have to afford a place where the landlord thinks Give All Your Salary To Me!
Good luck in bike replacement and house hunting.

What did they do, take bolt cutters to the cable lock?

I've had good luck with 3/8" chain. Taking it indoors is another if less palatable option.

My living in bad neighborhoods has consisted of: good door locks, know your neighbors, know your on-site management (not on site? don't live there!), and a lighting survey. If I had to, I'd add framed screen doors and video cameras. Much above that and I need to start thinking about Lexan windows and kevlar panels, which is way too bad a 'hood. :)

What did they do, take bolt cutters to the cable lock?

That's the only thing I can think of. It was there when we got home yesterday around 1700; I opened the door to do laundry about the same time today (we were slugs this morning) and said "Wait...what's wrong with this picture?"

I've had good luck with 3/8" chain. Taking it indoors is another if less palatable option.

Moot point - Doug's already said he isn't buying another bike for them to steal before we move.

(not on site? don't live there!)

In a four-unit building? o.O

> In a four-unit building? o.O

Exactly. Small properties still have the maintenance issues that require a handyman, but little overhead to pay for them -- and out of sight is out of mind. In a larger complex (or chain of smaller ones), there is a full time maintenance crew and a dedicated manager you can complain to in person. Admittedly the places I've lived have been way behind on maintenance, but they were pretty quick on light bulbs and graffiti.

Not that you can afford it, but there's a house for sale down the street from here. & we're about two miles by bike from the Winchester Light-rail station.

Other than that I would suggest something larger than a meagre 4 unit rental situation. It scares ME to go visit you guys there.

Hmmm, Have you considered a paintgun booby trap?

I've got a spare beater I could loan you if there's some way to get it to you.

That really sucks; my commiserations.

best,

Joel

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