Steamboat Springs bike theft part of a larger crime symptom, residents say

After two $9,000 mountain bikes were stolen from a Steamboat Springs resident's front yard in the middle of the afternoon, they're asking for help finding the bikes again after a string of reported bike thefts last week.

[@leoblazer74]

Better not give a description, it could be construed as racist

[@Atlanta_Cyclist]

In Atlanta, they steal your bike while you are riding it.

[@WayneSmith-zx3tf]

If you're not armed.

[@Atlanta_Cyclist]

@@WayneSmith-zx3tf though I was joking, I do carry.

[@ClaytonTownley]

Apelanta

[@Atlanta_Cyclist]

Flesh color, of course!

[@WayneSmith-zx3tf]

Well, when you pay in excess of $4k for your mountain bike, you might want to treat it like something some schmuck might want to steal, regardless of where you live.

[@user-xn1bo9rx5m]

what color is a “schmuck” ?

[@randalhampton2966]

Yeah.. and bikes now are 5,000 bucks and up... so..... Pack the frame with some c - 4... bike goes missing, push the button, you'll find it!

[@andrewpm2]

I never leave my bike out of my sight.

[@PerfDayToday]

2:05 replace that rear derailleur cable!

[@WayneSmith-zx3tf]

I saw that too!! I just stared at it!!

[@PerfDayToday]

@@WayneSmith-zx3tf i just replaced mine is why I noticed.. 😂😂

[@mray8519]

AIRTAGS

[@davidbrock6263]

I had a $90 Schwinn Varsity stolen from front yard in 1971. Nothing new to see here.

[@chadwells7562]

Schwinn Varsity…. That was my first road bike circa 2008 too! Might’ve been your bike 😂

[@tyarnold4088]

Chrome GT in 89. Right off the front porch., middle of the day. Small town with no crime. Lol.

[@Juno_Beach]

Good thing our southern border is secure

[@geshden]

Yeah all those illegal aliens stealing all of our bikes!

[@outof86]

why is the interviewer standing so far from the girl?

[@Shred_Tube]

its called giving people personal space, you should try it come time

[@FiftiesForward]

To show her body

[@gypsyHAASy]

@@Shred_Tube12’ isn’t personal space, it’s weird

[@Shred_Tube]

@@gypsyHAASy ☠️ I mean it’s personal space if you’re not a creep or incel 🤷🏾

[@Big_Island_Boi]

Keep an eye out on eBay... a lot of higher end bikes are sold there... out of state from where they are stolen... to make it harder to find them / catch them. It's a dirty game. Also, in the olden days (like 20 yrs ago)--before the proliferation of carbon fiber frames--bike serial numbers were pounded into the bottom bracket shells, making them extremely difficult to remove or tamper with. Nowadays, the serial numbers are usually nothing more than a sticker on the bottom side of the bike that can just be peeled off, making it very difficult to prove ownership if recovered.

[@BOOSTEDDUDE]

It's funny you mention this. All my older 26" bikes have the serial number pounded into the frames. But I just check my nice new 29" and sure enough it's just a sticker! That's lame!

[@Big_Island_Boi]

Steamboat is a tiny place. If you steal a high end bike there, it's not like you can ride it locally or sell it locally without getting busted. And it's an expensive place. Most people living in million dollar houses are not stealing bikes to support their lifestyle. So, yeah, it's almost certainly "out of towners" and / or "seasonal workers" that are feeding off the small town trust and lax security. And that's one of the worst things about these kinds of thefts... they erode that peace and comfort and trust that SHOULD be in small towns. But since it is a small town--with really only one way in and one way out--it shouldn't be too difficult or expensive for the community to put up cameras at the entrances to the town to catch plates and other info and details about every vehicle coming and going. Also, if more residents and businesses installed cameras that could certainly help as well. But the deeper issue is the revolving door at the city, county, and state courthouses--not just in Colorado--but virtually everywhere now. If it's not a "violent" crime the criminals usually get off scott free... or with just a slap on the wrist. And most police departments don't even really investigate property crimes. They are too busy dealing with drugs and violence. Their function is merely to issue a police report so you can submit it to your insurance company to file a claim. That's about it. If the thieves accidentally drive through the front wall of the police station with your stolen bikes in their vehicle... the cops MIGHT arrest them. But probably not.

[@ducatilove11]

My bike is $10k. It never leaves my sight. In a bike rack its locked with heavy duty anti cut chain and padlock. Remove your bike rack when not in use coz these scumbags will steal those too. Inside the garage lock it again with anti cut chains.

[@helidude3502]

Crime can happen anywhere, anytime. Especially in “safe” neighborhoods. Leaving it outside, unlocked, and unwatched 🤦🏻

[@oldschooldude3500]

Lesson learned hopefully. Never leave your bikes out of sight. Even locked up on the back of a rack. When I go out with a bike by myself I don't let the bike out of my sight unless I'm riding with friends that are watching over it.

[@jason-bn4qw]

i found these bikes last night stashed under a neighbor's porch. Got them returned to their owners!

[@36DSEJOHN1]

Seriously! Crime happens every second. Native to Colorado and I find it ridiculous they are planning "other parts" of Colorado for their crimes.

[@exitar1]

Does law enforcement know about it?

[@BOOSTEDDUDE]

Oh wow, sorry too hear this. I was actually up riding DH at the resort a few weeks ago. The only time I took my eye off my bike was when I went in to get a ticket. It's not the most high end DH rig but it's still pretty nice and would likely be targeted. But, I typically always err on the side of caution no matter where I am. Good luck getting the bikes back. Must be really high end bikes since they're offering 5K for recovery.

[@deadreckoner5276]

“Some people from out of town”

[@marioacevedo5077]

I've had the locks cut the two times my bikes were stolen. Welcome to Colorado.

[@chrisregister8021]

They should build a mechanism into the bike that can be locked so that it would make the bike worthless.

[@festerofest4374]

Cyclists pay thousands (5k to 10k, even 15-20k for road bikes) for very light weight bikes (because they feel much better to ride). They aren’t going to add anything that adds weight, and some type of security system that’s actually effective, as you describe it, would not be light weight.

[@SouthwestSasquatch]

Stay strapped

[@bfranco1519]

Colorado sucks…

[@magicunicorn6535]

I have a nice mountain bike that I keep inside my locked home, not outside or even in a garage. I never lock it outside with a bike lock, never leave it in my locked car, and won't even let a friend watch it for me if I'm using a restroom. I take my bike into the stall with me, instead.

[@ZoomingAlong-fx1oi]

I have had 2 Specialized uber expensive Road Bikes stolen and learned the hard way..There is a lock that cannot be cut with a cordless grinder it is a LiteLok..Check, they have a US distributor..I hope this helps at least one person

[@askdoctorwebster]

Oh my God stop saying it was OK to leave your doors unlocked never in the history of time. Has it been OK to leave your doors unlocked. There’s always been bad people, and bears can open doors then you see little house on the Prairie lock your doors always.

[@jasonehredt968]

Sanctuary.

[@jayanderson6016]

40,000 illegal immigrants from Venezuela arrived in Denver in the last 18 months....probably not related.

[@PLAZALOT58]

Hidden AirTag might help

[@Schweigardt]

totally, could've easily got a fix on the bike and started tracking it before the thieves had time to look over the bike. they make some clever gadgets to mount them on the bike or sometimes you can hide them in the frame

[@climbingcue]

Apple AirTag hidden on the bike. $20 solution.

[@stevemurray2737]

Who leaves Mountain Bikes in the Front Yard! Duh!

[@clintmichigan9112]

Cable locks lol.....gone in less than a second

[@kevinridgeway1270]

you need 2 quality locks and an air tag

[@askdoctorwebster]

Air tag

[@gypsyHAASy]

I’m not going to say where I live, but we are a biking community and bikes don’t get stolen often because police come down on bike theft full force, they find them, return the bikes, prosecute thieves and max out their sentences. Go figure…it works

[@JohnAnderson-xw3mq]

They offer a 5k reward how much were their 2 bikes lol

[@Fro10079]

The cops lost him 😂

[@GT5005]

As a proud democrat.. I firmly believe in defunding the police, bail reform, and legalizing all non violent crimes. It worked great in California where I’m from. It reduced crimes and made it safer.

[@flyingnorseman]

the satire is strong with you, young Jedi.

[@bavarian11]

Nice, you are exactly right! The browning of America

[@FiftiesForward]

And how are thieves going to sell an expensive bike ? I can't even sell my cheap one 😅 I'm sure it's insurance scam

[@magicunicorn6535]

Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, swap meets, or part it out and sell the parts.

[@FiftiesForward]

@@magicunicorn6535 I doubt it

[@anthonysears871]

Well duh. Same in Aspen! Liberal Colorado!

[@charliedillon1400]

These people were careless. Sorry.

[@snowturtle6858]

Welcome to Cal-orado It's a shi* hole

[@magicunicorn6535]

Thieves follow the money.