Maraton (Swedish) 3-speed

Bike details

Type

Cruiser / Comfort Bike

Color

black frame, silver fenders

Size

27 inch wheels

Condition

blue and yellow band on frame under the seat

Theft circumstances

Date

Oct 19, 2013

Lock type

Cable w/ Padlock

Locked to

Locked to street sign.

How locked

Locked through front wheel and frame to object.

How defeated

Lock is missing, along with the bike.

Duration

90 minutes

Area

Front of building in residential area.

Recovery notes

On 10/24/13, the CSBR received the following email: Miracle of miracles -- I found my bike! (I don't know who might be interested in the story, but here it is.) It was stolen on Saturday afternoon, 19 Oct 2013, between 3:15-5:00pm in front of 5059 N. Sheridan Road in Uptown. I made a police report and posted a notice with Chicago Stolen Bike on Sunday morning. I hated to loose it since it's a used Swedish model that I purchased while in 1989 while living in Zambia -- and brought back with me from Africa when I returned to Chicago in 2000. After riding it for nearly 25 years, I had become very accustomed to it. When the police asked about its value, I said "a sales value of $100-$200 but to me personally it's priceless." Filing the reports brought a degree of closure to the trauma of the theft and, frankly, I largely dismissed it from my mind. All good things pass away. My bike was gone and it was time to begin thinking about options for replacing it. At 6:00am on Tuesday morning, 22 Oct, I began the long trip on the "L" from the Lawrence stop to Midway for a business trip. I usually transfer at Lake from the Red Line to the Orange but, with luggage, I decided this time to take the lazy man's route: cross the platform at Belmont to the Brown and then to the Orange at Wellington/Franklin. As I walked under the tracks to the Orange platform, to my total unexpected shock, there was my bike! It was locked with a cable to a stand on the inside of the CTA turnstiles. I immediately spoke to the CTA station manager and then called the police to begin the recovery process. I imagined this to be lengthy and complicated and began worrying about ways to handle the likelihood of me missing my flight. Then, about 3 minutes after calling the police, a man came through the turnstiles, walked up to my bike, and unlocked the cable. My subsequent conversation with him went like this: Me: "THAT'S MY BIKE! It was stolen last Saturday." Him: "I don't know nothing about that. I bought it in 'Jew Town' yesterday." (his words, not mine) Me: "I don't care how you got it, we'll soon get it sorted out. I've called the police and they will be here in a few minutes." Him: "Hey man, if it's your bike, you can have it. I don't want nothing to do with it." Then he very quickly left me standing there with my bike, which was now very conveniently unlocked. To complete the miracle, I took it down to the street, loaded into a taxi, drove to Uptown where I left it at home, and then proceeded to Midway where I made my flight at the last possible second just before they closed the plane's door. I cannot image the odds of recovering a bike in this manner. It must be several millions to one. Whatever, I am VERY grateful to have my bike back.