Bicycle Austin forum

My locked bicycle was stolen Dec 19 from the rack at 24 Hour Fitness, Hancock Center, and the police, who were in the vicinity and notified of the crime, did nothing to stop it from happening.  A witness, who works for a government safety enforcement  department in Austin, saw the thief break the lock and steal it from the rack.  The witness immediately called 9-1-1. The thief rode off on the bike and the pursuing witness encountered a police officer parked in the vicinity.  When the witness notified the officer that a crime was in progress and that he could catch the thief, the officer responded, "I work highway enforcement" and a different district would get the call.  The thief rode off with my bike, which is my principal means of transportation.

It's an outrage that a police officer would fail to pursue a criminal just because he works highway enforcement.  If my bike had been a car, I think it's likely the officer would have acted. That bike may not be worth as much as a car, but it's the only way I have of getting around and it is a hardship to lose it.  I have no doubt that thief will continue to steal other bikes, causing hardship for others.  Why was the crime against my property not taken seriously by the police?