2005 Specialized Crossroads Sport

What happened

Was my thief in a halloween costume? Or perhaps a Halloween ghost? I locked my bike in front of Chicago's second largest library figuring it would be safe with the constant car traffic and people that always sit in front of the library chilling out. Across the street in Welles Park is a group of older gentlemen who play bocce ball every weekend. When I left the library and saw my bike missing, the couple people sitting outside said they didn't steal it. Then I saw my lock sitting on the ground. Cut. Either with a bolt cutter or a hacksaw. Also, this happened on Halloween. In this neighborhood, all the kids do their trick or treating on Lincoln Avenue, so there were even more people walking around. How can someone steal a bicycle with all these witnesses? My only guess is some sort of Halloween ghost. All in all this is shaping up to be like a game of Clue. -- We know the location. The LIBRARY. -- We know the weapon. The BOLTCUTTERS (or hacksaw). -- We do not know the CRIMINAL. Who could have seen this? The pedestrians. The trick or treaters. The auto drivers. The library loungers. The bocce ball players. This is a Halloween mystery that will haunt me for ages.

Bike details

Type

Hybrid Bike

Color

Gray

Size

a bike for someone with a 31-inch inseam

Condition

five-year old bike. Duct tape bands around main shaft of frame. Reflective tape on main frame and rear bike rack. On handlebars: brass bike bell, holder for light, holder for odometer.

Theft circumstances

Date

Oct 31, 2009

Lock type

Combination Cable Lock

Locked to

Locked to bike rack.

How locked

Locked through front wheel and frame to object.

How defeated

Lock was cut, and left at the scene.

Duration

two hours from 2:30pm to 4:30pm

Area

Sidewalk in front of an open business.

Police report #

HR619280