How to steal a bike in NYC

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Bx RedBull · Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:11 am

It's a bicycle but figured its still relevant to show just how conditioned to dealing with dodo New Yorkers have become. The video could be staged but I doubt it. It's amazing to see how people in the city either just don't give a cluck or are completely oblivious to anything not concerning them. What makes our city so great and gives us that handle anything attitude is also what makes us shake our heads at ourselves when we see dodo like this.

How to steal a bike in NYC

Bachstrad37 · Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:27 am

What a nice city.

Loonette · #3 Unread post by **Loonette** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:34 am

Incredible... but not too surprising for a large urban setting. All the times that I've spent bustling around both Detroit and Chicago, I'm sure that there may have been crimes taking place right in front of me without gaining my attention.

This guy looked like he knew what he was doing - as if he was supposed to be removing the bikes. People maybe think... he works for the city - they need the bike removed because it's been there too long... or maybe... this poor guy must have lost his key to the lock... And, for the rare person who actually wants to figure it out, they may think... no sense in calling the police - they're too busy with other crimes... The woman lighting the cigarette may have been sizing up the situation a bit, but she may have figured... he's almost out of here, and I have nobody to help me do anything... Who knows.

I read a book many years ago about "mob mentality". Basically, people do a better job of getting involved if they feel that others in the crowd will also get involved. If a crime is being committed, and one person wants to intervene, the book mentioned that the best thing for that one person to do is to enlist the help of just one or two more people. Eventually others will take notice, and begin to join in.

Years ago, in Detroit, a woman was sent to her death over the bridge at Belle Isle by her maniac boyfriend. There was a crowd of 30 or more just watching. A few of the people tried to call police, but cell phones weren't so popular then, and working pay phones weren't available nearby. When witnesses were asked why they didn't help the woman, they all had the same reasoning - the guy was crazy and would have hurt them as well. But if any one of them had grabbed even three men, they could have taken him down quite easily.

The strange thing is... after 9/11 there has been a pretty good increase in the average person sticking up for themselves. Party store clerks are more willing to beat up and chase away robbers, more people call the police when they notice "suspicious" activities or people. But for the smaller things in life - like bicycles - we tend to just remain as our 'ole apathetic selves. Too bad really - we are so much better than that if we just allow it to happen.

Cheers,
Loonette

DivideOverflow · Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:48 am

Hard thing about a bicycle is it is hard to prove if it is yours or not unless you have some identifiable information etched on it somewhere.

If I saw someone breaking a chain, I would probably think that they lost their key. Unless they were stealing a bunch of bikes and throwing them in a van or something. But some random guy walking up, breaking a chain then riding away on the bike would be more likely that it would be their bike.... but you never know.

So you walk up to the person and say "Is that your bike?", They say "Yes.".... then what?? am I supposed to knock em out and call the police because I suspect it isn't theirs?? Do I say "prove it!"? Do I ask for a receipt? What is the correct course of action?

earwig · #5 Unread post by **earwig** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:56 am

If it were around here where I live suburbia... I might call the polics... but in a city like NYC where you can get shot for looking at someone the wrong way I'm not saying jack-bone to anyone that I don't know

JC Viper · #6 Unread post by **JC Viper** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:34 am

Then again this is a city where someone will knock over a motorcycle for taking up the space. Some cops will pass a motorcyclist trying to flag em down. The mayor says illegals are a major part of booming business while leaving the poor out in the cold.

9/11 taught us nothing in terms of repsecting people.

Ham Hock · #7 Unread post by **Ham Hock** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:17 am

Wasn't it neighborly of that one guy to stop and help him steal the bike? Who says New Yorkers aren't nice

Bugg · #8 Unread post by **Bugg** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:21 am

The 'mob mentality' also has to do with 'diffusion of responsibility'..basically no one does anything because they figure someone else in the crowd will, so no one does anything... in the late 60's in Great Neck (long island, NY) there was a murder of a young student, Kitty Genovese..the murder took place over 2 hours, with the killer leaving and coming back to finish it, there were I believe 50 witnesses, one was standing in their apt. doorway 5 feet away while the girl pleaded for help, the killer was caught a few days later after a robbery, and said he killed the girl in plain sight because he knew no one would do anything.....I don't mean to be gory but you can be damn sure no one is going to do anything if they see your stuff being messed with on any street, city or otherwise, you statistically have a better chance for help if there's only 1 witness than a crowd

Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:29 am

"We did find one concerned citizen. This is Hector. He suggested vice grips."

SuperRookie · Tue Jul 18, 2006 7:56 am

What's even MORE amazing about that little vid is the NYPD cruiser parked at the curb right in line of sight of the camera. That's right folks. NYC's 'finest'. Probly at the nearest Dunkin' Donuts