Last Monday morning at 1250am our 3 year old daughter comes into our bedroom and cralws into bed with us stating she is scared. Thinking nothing of it we go back to sleep. 7am my phone rings, it is my neighbor:

" your truck door is open and so is your garage"

I reply, yeah right as I ws certain it was closed the night before. I jump downstairs and discover my truck has been turned inside out, someone has gone through it. My garage opener is missing

The scumbag got into my truck, which was parked in my drive way, stole a Garmin GPS, IPOD and other items, then used the garage opener to open the garage door, he then helped himself to my pride and joy: 2006 custom build Norco Shore mountain bike valued at $3700.

I called the cops who informed me that he had tried to open the door from the garage into my home, I wish he had as it was armed and would have woken us up.

I was heartbroken about the bike, I had saved for a long time to build it and it got me into shape with about 3 trips a week.

Determined to get the bike back I distributed 400ish flyers around the area where i live, schools, Cabbies, Kids etc posting a $500 reward. I also posted it on Craigslist Vancouver.

Last Wednesday I got an email from a guy who said he was sure my bike was sold the night before from an ad that was up for only about 2 hours. he did not have any into or phone number from the ad but was 100% sure it was mine as he ahd never seen the front shock before.

Same afternoon i get another email from a highschool kid who said the same, he called the guy from the ad and was told he sold it for $300!!! as he needed the $$, he could not tell him anything about the components etc which was suspect. looking through the other ad's he found mine and called his mom who also said it was identical.

I spoke to the kid on the phone who gave me a Phone number and a Name. I took some time and searched on Google and various other sites (I know the guy lived in Coquitlam BC). I now have:

Name
Last Name
Age
Full Address
Picture
His Company (he runs some hiphop online store)
11 Youtube video's (of him being a gangster wigga wannabe)

I sent him an email, but he has not replied. I spoke to the police who has advised me NOT to look him up myself, and since the bike is sold there might be little they can do.

I am itching to drive up there and sit outside his house, then take a bat to him when i see him

I know there is a chance that the bike is not mine but I have a feeling it is.

What would you do?

I'd invest in a German shepherd. or a dog that barks everytime someone gets close. but you never know if the guys has a gun, or might be just some crack junkie that needs his fix

I would stick with the cops. Did you tell them that this guy broke into your truck and home, do they know the value of what was taken?

I would seriously go by the law. Sounds like you might have to push them to do their job, but you'd be better off.

Once upon a time, when showtimex wasn't such a nice guy and responsible, I'd have done some serious dirt on this guy, if I was 100% it was him.

ETA: You seem more upset over a stolen bike than the fact that some was IN YOUR HOUSE.

What he did, and your description of him, tells me he's not someone you want troubles over. You have a family. This guys knows where you live. Think about it.

Was your house/Xterra fingerprinted? If so why not go on recycling day and take a few of his bottles/cans and get them fingerprinted?

I would also contact all the local bike shops to keep an eye/ear out for your bike, it might come in for a tune up or the guy that has it now come in to buy parts and talk about his bike.

I like the bat to the head idea personally.

I know you are pissed, but don't do anything to the guy. If something should happen to him, the police will be coming to your house looking for you.

How serious are the police taking this case? There was some serious felonies committed here. As has already been asked, did the police take fingerprints? Were detectives assigned to the case? Did the police interview your suspect?

You can't even be sure the same guy that was in your home is the same guy who sold the bike on the internet.

How did he get into your truck without an alarm going off?

Consider some security precautions for your garage door. Attached garages are common points of entry in home invasions.

Let the police handle it for the time being. Stay in contact with them.

You register the Garmin? I wonder if they'd be able to help track it!

I say go after the little fuckers business. Start bugging his online store - I have no problem helping Wenzel thieving scum.

Can you Subpoena Craigslist or wherever the Ad was posted for a copy of the Ad?

Says in their FAQs that they will give up an old ad with a Valid subpoena. http://www.craigslist.org/about/help/faq

http://www.craigslist.org/about/help/subpoenas_and_search_warrants

There's some confusion here (at least in my head).

In what country did this crime occur?
In what country do you live?

That might help us with our responses.

The answer to both is Canada.

Oh - well, then don't do the bat thing. Chase him down with a Zamboni or something like that.

Kidding aside, that means I'm no real help other than, "Don't do anything stupid that makes you a criminal". That and force the cops to do their job (as much as you can).

The police will "do their job" if you stay out of the way and allow them to. Forget about the silly CSI cans from his trash idea, a personal visit, and anything else that will tip the suspect that he's been identified and is under investigation (if it's not too late for that already). If you committed this crime and knew the police were investigating you personally would you keep keep the stolen property - likley to be the only physical evidence linking you to the crime - or would you dump it immediately?

These cases take time - don't forget, yours is one of dozens they're responsible for at the moment and the victim in every one of those cases thinks theirs is the most important.

You'll be more help making sure you have serial numbers and the rest of the information they'll need if they are able to find and recover your property.

The Garmin can't be tracked - good idea though.

Make sure you reprogram the garage door opener if you haven't already done so.

Don't do the bat thing. Attempted murder isn't good on a resume.

I'm guessing the wigger/Youtuber isn't the guy that broke into your house - most likely he just sold the bike for his "homie."

Anyone who buys a $3K+ bike for $300 probably knows it's stolen. I would assume they aren't going to hang on to it forever - maybe repost it on Craigslist or pawn it, but it's probably not Lance Armstrong you're dealing with.

First, you HAVE to be SURE! When you are 100% satisfied that this is the idiot, then go to the cops. If they're too "busy" counting moose or whatever, then it's time to get creative. Wenzel him. Harass him in small, slow, horrible and untraceable ways until you exact about $3700 worth of "respect."

"I was heartbroken about the bike, I had saved for a long time to build it and it got me into shape with about 3 trips a week."

My condolenses on the loss of your bike. My bike (Cannondale Prophet) is my prized possession - I think I'd cry for a week of it got stolen. That really sucks.

If you don't get it back, can you at least put a claim on your home owners insurance? Or is your deductable too high to make it worthwhile?

Personally I'm taking this as a warning. I've been stupid lax on locking my shed. No more.

Speaking of "stupid lax," my buddy Chris ran into a convenience store for a cup of coffee on his way to church last Sunday. He left his Jeep Cherokee running.... came out literally 3 minutes later and it was gone. Cops found it four hours later, stuffed to the brim with $3,000 worth of shit the perps bought at Wal-Mart with the check-card they found in Chris's Jeep.

The cops looked at the surveilance video and saw the bad guy walk right out of the McDonald's next door. He was in the jeep before Chris even poured his coffee.

The lesson for me is, Wal-Mart will allow anyone to buy anything with literally anyone's checks, check cards or credentials!

A similar incident happened to me in Oklahoma. The perp kicked in my garage entry door on the back of the house when we were both gone. Took my bike, table saw and a couple of other things. THEN the alarm went off. (This was the door we usually went in and out of and it had a 90 second delay on the alarm.)

The little shit left track marks in our backyard with his truck getting away!

Long story short, the cops investigated, found my bike (another hand built bike) and then found the shithead and busted him. I didn't get my bike back though - it was already trashed.

My homeowners insurance (full REPLACEMENT coverage) wanted an estimate to replace everything - the door, my bike, the tablesaw, etc. I very quickly went to the bike shop that sold me most of the parts. The owner was a friend of mine (quasi-sponsor) and helped me build it so he knew the bike well. He gave me an estimate to hand build another bike like it and the insurance company didn't even blink an eye. I explained to them that I raced and it wasn't a cheap bike. At the time (about 12-13 years ago) it was $2700+. They gave me a check and I replaced the bike.

Interestingly enough, the shit got caught in the end. About a year later we received a certified letter from him apologizing for what he did to us. It was part of his punishment.

So, having been there Claus, let the system do their work. It may take time and it may be frustrating, but if you go after him, whether you have proof (not just being 100% sure) you have the right guy or not, it won't look good on you.

Oh, and you can't go to Nepal and China if you're in jail!

-G

start by not ever leaving valuables in the truck in the driveway again, especially keys or openers that give crooks access to your whole house.

Bummer story. Will your homeowners insurance at least cover the loss?

No I am fucked on that one...I am in te process of changing Insurance companies.

My Wife bought me a new bike today...she does not know it but...thanks honey!

riiiiight. Police don't do squat.

You can rest assured that the police are hard at work investigating your case right now..... down at the Tim Horton's.

You probably don't want to take my advice, but I think something like this could be a good idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0kfe5tkdD4

Now that is FUNNY, my favorite movie to boot!.

Try and google "Vince Pisthon" and you will see the scumbag

Sorry about what happened man but how do you go without home insurance? You must be paid off because my mortgage company stipulates that if you lapse in coverage THEY will cover you at a nice high rate per day.

Time to invest in some serious home alarm gear. Put a code panel IN the garage and use it.

Is your garage attached to the house? Is there a door from the house into the garage? That would frighten the piss out of me. Thinking this guy was steps away from entering my home while I'm asleep. I sleep really deeply so I count on my dogs to be my ears. They do a wonderful and sometimes annoying job of letting me know what they hear.

I could not agree more. While appreciate the fact that they risk their lives for us, every time I have needed their services they were little more than completely worthless.

ICBC does homeowners insurance too?