Perhaps it was a “speak of the devil” moment, but no sooner did we break our long “no crime stories” streak on Friday, then we walk out to our garage on Sunday and find our own bike missing. Phooey!
It was a beat up old Specialized mountain bike with a baby trailer attachment on the rear axle. We had a 4 tumbler combination lock on it, which was left lying on the ground, tumbled to the right combination. Perhaps we were not so clever in choosing our numbers.
Honestly, I’m a bit worried for the thief, as the front brakes had been jerry-rigged and would often suddenly disengage. The rear breaks were so soft that when used alone, couldn’t be guaranteed to bring us to a stop at the bottom of our hill. We hope he knows what he’s gotten himself into.
It will probably get the thief $25 on Craigslist and cost us $450 to replace. Sigh.
I wouldn’t be worried for the thief, Wallyhood. In fact, I’d be hoping for some karma to strike him and have the brakes fail at just the right time so he breaks all his teeth.
I wonder if there are more preventative measures we can take . . . it feels to me like there are opportunistic eyes on all our garages, gates, windows, vehicles, all things wheels and that is creepy. On my East Wallyford block a visiting friend got her camera swiped from the trunk of her rental car – the windows were open because it was HOT (welcome to Seattle); clearly there is very routine drug dealing activity closer to the freeway; “our” homeless teenager is back living in familiar bushes and out buildings (not that he is a thief, just another crack in the neighborhood picture window).
Two decades ago there was a rash of car break-ins and some of us took turns keeping an eye out in the wee smalls (we called it “taking the night shift”) and making that obvious by having radio or tv on, lights, flashlight in hand, though perhaps that is dangerous. We also stripped out the remaining car radios, tape/CD players and left the doors unlocked.
Boycott Craig’s list for a time as a startle mechanism? Cover everything I own with duct tape in a distinctive pattern so what is underneath is less obvious?
Really sorry about your bike. In my experience the post-trauma aftermath is awful too. And hard to explain to a kid.
how did they get into your garage?
I’ve heard that Tumbler locks are pretty easy to pick, sadly. You just click and wait for a little give on each of the four. But I also want to know how someone got into the garage!?! That’s pretty disturbing. So sorry, J.
Unfortunately, my garage door doesn’t have a lock on it. There is a bike rack sunk in concrete inside that I can lock things to.
Perhaps it was for the best…if you’re going to put a baby trailer on the back, you best get a bike with working brakes 😉
Bummer Jordan. Margaret’s right. I had a bike stolen from UW two years ago with a tumbler combo lock. They also stole the LOCK, which makes me think the cable was not cut and rather they “cracked” the combo. Gotta go U-Lock in this town!
Very sorry Jordan.
U-lock is good, as I learned you’ve got to u-lock to something stationary as well. They can cut/pry apart a u-lock, but it takes a lot of time.
We have found an abondoned specialized mountain bike at our garbage. What color was yours? Hopefully, it is yours. However, a baby trailer attachment wasn’t there. Anyway, let us know, and we will keep it in our garage for now.
Saturday night/Sunday morning someone decided to throw a portable grill that had been left on the parking strip as a give-a-way, through the back window of my car parked on the street (Bagley). That also was the night we had rain so you can imagine the mess of all the stuff from the grill (charcol, etc.) on top and inside of car with all the glass. Not a pretty sight.
No one died and it’s just a car but a headache for sure with this random vandalism. Not to mention the insurance deductible. Grrr
so sorry about the stolen bike! it is always a feeling of violation to have this happen.. . i can help prevent crime with a monitored sec. system – free equip. pkg with the monitoring… am in the Wallingford directory….. don’t be a victim!
Carol Meyer
This not about a theft type crime but an ugly pattern of plant and tree destruction is recurring in Lower Wallingford. About 3-4 years ago someone was going around damaging and sometimes killing plants and trees. A posting on telephone poles seemed to cause this lowlife to cease and desist but it’s happening again! I live on Meridian between 35th and 36th and about 2 months ago 4 specimen trees started abruptly dying. Two (a new stewartia and a 5 year old fine Japanese maple) are dead and gone and 2 tiger striped maples on the parking strip are going downhill but may survive. A certified arborist confirmed pesticide damage (probably 2-4D). A neighbor two houses away with a small parking strip Japanese maple noticed that it’s trunk was broken and it had to be dug out. There probably was some pesticide damage done to some parking strip shrubs up at 39th and Meridian.
Has anyone else had similar damage done to their plants and does anyone have any ideas about what can be done about preventing more damage? A police report has been filed but there’s no evidence so no action can be taken.
I am so sorry to hear about your bike. It is very violating to have your space invaded and your stuff stolen. It seems we’ve heard quite a bit about it lately around here.
@ Cyrus-
Somebody really came and put pesticide on your plants?! What is wrong with people? That is terrible! I hope you called the police and they have some leads…
@ everyone else- I’m at 40th & Stone Way. I haven’t been here for very long but I can’t believe how low the crime is. I know that’s easy to say, for now, until it happens to me, but coming from the CD, I feel very safe here in Wallingford. (Know that is because of you all!) However, I really appreciate the updates on local crime and thefts, as I am reminded to lock my windows and always practice safe living. This has been such a welcoming neighborhood, even to us renters. I hope to someday buy here and I treat Wallingford as my home. I know Seattle just had the Night Out but maybe we could have another local one or regular ones (monthly?) here in Wallingford. Knowing your neighbors (and them knowing you) keeps you safer, increases the chance of a 911 call during an emergency and keeps eyes on our houses and our children. I’d love to help organize if anyone is interested, I am free in the evenings- Heather
Re: “tumbler” locks (which is, I think, a misnomer: high-quality locks have tumblers inside, but the things you’re referring to are not them.)
Having at times played with lock-breaking as an intellectual puzzle (Richard Feynman being one of my heroes) I can say that, generally, those multiple-wheels-on-one-axle type locks are very easy to pick. As a previous poster said, by close attention to the feel of the wheels, they can usually be opened in fairly short order. I’d never trust one, even a more-expensive version. I like the Master 470-175. It’s re-settable and easy for kids and others to use (no “three times left, two times right” etc) and beefy as heck. $10 or so, and you need to add a cable (swage your own at your fave hardware store) but worth it if you’ve got something worth protecting.
– r
My son’s bike went missing from our driveway this week along with his helmet, and the new bike basket that was just the perfect size for taking his lunchbox to kindergarten.
I know the economy sucks, but really…you have to steal a bike from a 5 year old?