Lost Bicycle, have I done everything I could?

[jo552006]

So, I don't know if this belongs here or on the wall of shame... I left my bicycle out at my mailbox and walked down the woods staking my new driveway locations.  When I came back to the road, the bike was gone!  Here in Southern Maine, it's common for free things to be left by the side of the road with a free sign.  I'd like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but if it's anybody local, they would have since seen my sign staying it was not free, and to please return it.

I was wondering if there was anything else I should be doing beyond keeping an eye out for it, filing a police report, contacting local (and localish) pawn shops with the description, and checking craigslist.  I also posted some flyers and a sign, all indicating that I just want the bike, no questions asked.

Have people here had luck getting a stolen (or mistakenly taken) bicycle back?  My witty wife keeps telling me with every day that passes, the chances of finding it become bleaker and bleaker...

I keep thinking of the article about MMM's lost bicycle, but unfortunately not matter how many times I stare at my fleet I have yet to spot the missing bike just out of view.

[meghan88]

Sounds like you've done everything you could - best if you chalk it up to experience and move on.  Locking my bike ALWAYS is one lesson I learned a long while ago.  I've never owned new or expensive bikes but having lost one or two to theft really pisses me off, especially because the result was that I had to walk home.  (Hopping a bus or taking a cab/lift defeats the whole purpose of biking, plus the long walk home really makes the lesson a lot more memorable.)

Bikes have been stolen from our locked condo bike room - not mine, because even though the door had a lock, I took the extra few seconds to lock my bike, thanks to lessons learned.

It pains me to read the posts on Craigslist/kijiji regarding lost/stolen bikes.  Happens all the time, even though they "just ran inside for a second."  Yep, you could've at least kissed it goodbye.

[WhiteTrashCash]

For your next bike, you should consider adding a bicycle security system like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYlBT1d_GWo

[catccc]

That's a big bummer.  Keep looking for it.  If you are on FB look at local yardsale groups, it might end up there.  For craigslist maybe put together some sort of alert for it.  If it was a thief, he or she might wait a while before trying to unload it knowing the owner might be looking for it right after the theft.  Good luck, I hope you get it back!

[jo552006]

That video definitely cheered me up.

Interesting news, just purchased another Trek 820 (same make/model as old one) but it needs work.  Hopefully this at least gets my mind off my missing bicycle.  My wife is worried I might be starting to get a reputation for staring at bicycles and turning in people's driveways.