BIKE: Bike Stolen at UT

[John SomdeCerff]

I locked my bike at 24th and San Jacinto at the rack under the parking 
garage ramp about 7:30 Wednesday morning.  By Thursday, a bit after 
five, it was gone.

Bike Description:
Mountain Bike
Schwinn Sidewinder 2.6 FS
Purchased in 2004
Mostly Black and Silver, with Red suspension forks
Serial Number SNT DC 04 F 39656
Model:  52600WMB
Date:  ID08JD
Accessories include a black rear fender, LED headlight and tail light.

This was the Wal-Mart bike I may have whined a bit about.  I finally had 
everything working just right on it and had just adjusted the deraillers 
for cable stretch.  I was using a cheap cable lock vs the U lock I 
should have had.  Its a long story about why I left it parked overnight 
so I won't go into it now.

Lane Wimberley wrote:

>Will registering bikes prevent (or even reduce) theft?
> Doubt it.
>  
>
I didn't prevent mine from being stolen.  However, did simplify the 
reporting.  All I need to give the officer was my UT ID and my bike's 
serial number is added to the stolen bike list.  Apparently pawn shops 
should check the list when receiving a bike.

FWIW, I think the impounding of unregistered bikes is not going to help 
UT's goal of increasing ridership.

The UT PD bike officer (on a nice Trek MB) noticed me loitering where my 
bike used to be almost immediately and came over to question me.  He was 
very helpful and seemed dedicated to stopping all of the bike theft that 
takes place there.  (He also radioed in to make sure that they had not 
impounded my bike.  It was properly registered.  If it was stolen, 
however, why didn't the thief leave the cut cable lock?  Maybe my bike 
will turn up at UT PD today.)

If anybody finds my bike please drop me a line or call me at 512-419-9127.

Thanks.

John Somdecerff