Ever set up a "honey pot" to try and find bike theives?

Hey all..
My bike was stolen on campus a few weeks ago (long may you run...) and I've
been keeping my eye out for anything suspicious lately.
While I was getting ready to ride home yesterday, I saw some kids that
didn't look like students kinda checking out a BMX bike that was locked up
to a fence. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to follow them (I was
on my road bike).

They went around to like 6 different bike racks across campus, and then
doubled back so they rode right past me, and I pretended I didn't see them.
So instead of turning right around, I gave them time.. and when I finally
did turn around, they were gone.

I rode straight to Campus Police and told them, and they asked "were they
wearing hats?" and I said "yeah.. " Then they said "yeah, we got reports
about them earlier.." and proceeded to do nothing. It's no big suprise that
Campus Police are planning on going on strike tomorrow...

Anyways, it's a weird coincidence that these guys were scoping bikes on the
same week day and at the exact same time that my bike was stolen. I can't
believe I lost them...

Anyhow, I'm considering the idea of setting up a "Honey Pot" on campus. That
is, a rack or two with a bunch of decent bikes either locked up with ****ty
locks, or maybe not even locked up at all. Then have a hidden camera setup
in an overlooking building and a few nerd friends with walkie talkies close
by.

I can't quite figure out the logistics behind the whole thing, but I do have
some decent ideas I think. The bikes will appear to be rideable, but wont'
actually be.. just so they can't actually get away with the bikes. That is,
Maybe I'll pop a pin almost all the way out on all the chains or let the air
out of a tire or something.

I just don't know what to do once we actually see them cut a lock and try to
take the bike... Would we secretly follow them and use a cell phone to
inform the police? Or would we just tackle them right there and hold them
until the police come?

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are planning,
and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few hours?

Either way, I think it's ****ing stupid that so many bikes get stolen and
absolutely nothing seems to be happening to stop it. Yet, millions of
dollars are spent in undercover operations trying to bust people for buying
pot or something.. makes no sense. So, I'd like to do something.. I know a
lot of bikes have been stolen from Campus recently, and if I could get these
people their bikes back.. and maybe my bike back too, I'd really really like
it.

Any ideas for how to go about this?

Mike

"Mike Beauchamp" wrote in message
...
Hey all..
My bike was stolen on campus a few weeks ago (long may you run...) and
I've
been keeping my eye out for anything suspicious lately.
While I was getting ready to ride home yesterday, I saw some kids that
didn't look like students kinda checking out a BMX bike that was locked up
to a fence. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to follow them (I was
on my road bike).

They went around to like 6 different bike racks across campus, and then
doubled back so they rode right past me, and I pretended I didn't see
them.
So instead of turning right around, I gave them time.. and when I finally
did turn around, they were gone.

I rode straight to Campus Police and told them, and they asked "were they
wearing hats?" and I said "yeah.. " Then they said "yeah, we got reports
about them earlier.." and proceeded to do nothing. It's no big suprise
that
Campus Police are planning on going on strike tomorrow...

Anyways, it's a weird coincidence that these guys were scoping bikes on
the
same week day and at the exact same time that my bike was stolen. I can't
believe I lost them...

Anyhow, I'm considering the idea of setting up a "Honey Pot" on campus.
That
is, a rack or two with a bunch of decent bikes either locked up with
****ty
locks, or maybe not even locked up at all. Then have a hidden camera setup
in an overlooking building and a few nerd friends with walkie talkies
close
by.

I can't quite figure out the logistics behind the whole thing, but I do
have
some decent ideas I think. The bikes will appear to be rideable, but wont'
actually be.. just so they can't actually get away with the bikes. That
is,
Maybe I'll pop a pin almost all the way out on all the chains or let the
air
out of a tire or something.

I just don't know what to do once we actually see them cut a lock and try
to
take the bike... Would we secretly follow them and use a cell phone to
inform the police? Or would we just tackle them right there and hold them
until the police come?

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are
planning,
and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few hours?

Either way, I think it's ****ing stupid that so many bikes get stolen and
absolutely nothing seems to be happening to stop it. Yet, millions of
dollars are spent in undercover operations trying to bust people for
buying
pot or something.. makes no sense. So, I'd like to do something.. I know a
lot of bikes have been stolen from Campus recently, and if I could get
these
people their bikes back.. and maybe my bike back too, I'd really really
like
it.

Any ideas for how to go about this?

Mike



Sounds a little risky to me, If you try this make sure you have plenty of
physical "backup" in guess it gets rough!

Ken

Mike Beauchamp wrote:

My bike was stolen on campus a few weeks ago (long may you run...)

Sorry about your bike, Mike. That hurts

Anyhow, I'm considering the idea of setting up a "Honey Pot" on
campus. That is, a rack or two with a bunch of decent bikes either
locked up with ****ty locks, or maybe not even locked up at all. Then
have a hidden camera setup in an overlooking building and a few nerd
friends with walkie talkies close by.

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are
planning, and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few
hours?

1) Talk to the P.D. If you can't/don't get the support and guidance of the
police up front, it's highly unlikely they're going to back your play once
it happens. Talking to them /first/ is both a show of support and a chance
to gauge their reaction;

2) Stupid, desperate kids (the bike thieves, of course!) can be very
dangerous. If you go it alone, you're playing a potentially high-stakes
game

My $0.02

Neil

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 01:39:20 -0500, Mike Beauchamp
wrote:

Hey all..
My bike was stolen on campus a few weeks ago (long may you run...) and
I've
been keeping my eye out for anything suspicious lately.
While I was getting ready to ride home yesterday, I saw some kids that
didn't look like students kinda checking out a BMX bike that was locked
up
to a fence. I had nothing better to do, so I decided to follow them (I
was
on my road bike).

They went around to like 6 different bike racks across campus, and then
doubled back so they rode right past me, and I pretended I didn't see
them.
So instead of turning right around, I gave them time.. and when I finally
did turn around, they were gone.

I rode straight to Campus Police and told them, and they asked "were they
wearing hats?" and I said "yeah.. " Then they said "yeah, we got reports
about them earlier.." and proceeded to do nothing. It's no big suprise
that
Campus Police are planning on going on strike tomorrow...

Anyways, it's a weird coincidence that these guys were scoping bikes on
the
same week day and at the exact same time that my bike was stolen. I can't
believe I lost them...

Anyhow, I'm considering the idea of setting up a "Honey Pot" on campus.
That
is, a rack or two with a bunch of decent bikes either locked up with
****ty
locks, or maybe not even locked up at all. Then have a hidden camera
setup
in an overlooking building and a few nerd friends with walkie talkies
close
by.

I can't quite figure out the logistics behind the whole thing, but I do
have
some decent ideas I think. The bikes will appear to be rideable, but
wont'
actually be.. just so they can't actually get away with the bikes. That
is,
Maybe I'll pop a pin almost all the way out on all the chains or let the
air
out of a tire or something.

I just don't know what to do once we actually see them cut a lock and
try to
take the bike... Would we secretly follow them and use a cell phone to
inform the police? Or would we just tackle them right there and hold them
until the police come?

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are
planning,
and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few hours?

Either way, I think it's ****ing stupid that so many bikes get stolen
and
absolutely nothing seems to be happening to stop it. Yet, millions of
dollars are spent in undercover operations trying to bust people for
buying
pot or something.. makes no sense. So, I'd like to do something.. I know
a
lot of bikes have been stolen from Campus recently, and if I could get
these
people their bikes back.. and maybe my bike back too, I'd really really
like
it.

Any ideas for how to go about this?

Mike


Make some friends on the football squad and have them hang out with you
near the bike racks or take a digital camera and make sure they see you
taking their picture. If there are a lot of them you may want an escape
route. My daughter attends the local college and I went there as is within
my rights to check it out. A local stray dog followed me and the local
'cops', more like (rent a dummy) decided the dog was breaking the rules so
they called animal control and had the dog taken away while lecturing me.
I lectured all 3 of them that they were supposed to be watching the campus
for people with less than education in mind and that concept seemed a bit
over their heads. They were obviously not alumni. Bikes get stolen at my
daughters college too, but the dumbells with badges never seem to catch
them. These guys are more like hall monitors on steroids and they even get
to carry guns. Guns? These clowns? Bad deal.


Bill (not always politically correct) Baka

On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 01:39:20 -0500, "Mike Beauchamp"
wrote:

I just don't know what to do once we actually see them cut a lock and try to
take the bike... Would we secretly follow them and use a cell phone to
inform the police? Or would we just tackle them right there and hold them
until the police come?

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are planning,
and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few hours?

To put it bluntly, you'd stand a better chance of winning this weeks
lottery jackpot. I'm not sure where you are but I can assure you that
the police don't give a ****.

What you suggest means that they would have to squeeze out from behind
the steering wheel of their cruisers just to deal with another human
turd and worse, have to deal with more paperwork. Why the hell would
they bother if they're going to get paid anyway?

Seriously, you're likely to encounter more resistance from the police
than the thieves.

Either way, I think it's ****ing stupid that so many bikes get stolen and
absolutely nothing seems to be happening to stop it. Yet, millions of
dollars are spent in undercover operations trying to bust people for buying
pot or something.. makes no sense.

Yes, many victimless crimes seem to be enforced more strongly than
things like bike theft which are essentially ignored. Don't you live
in Canada? Consider: If you lay a finger on the thief you can bet
the cops will show up in a flash and will likely charge *you* as well
or instead.

Seriously, so-called law enforcement really has no interest in
actually reducing the crime rate; this would in fact be quite
counterproductive for them and their massive budgets. This is part of
the reason that more things are made illegal all the time.

--
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its
victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under
robber-barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber-
baron's cruelty may at some point be satiated; but those who
torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they
do so with the approval of their own conscience."

- C.S. Lewis

"Mike Beauchamp" wrote: (clip) Maybe I could approach the police before and
tell them what we are planning, (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^
I think you should definitely not go ahead without involving them. You need
their physical support, as well as their willing cooperation. I don't know
why so many responses exhibit a negative image of the police. But if they
see you as a hostile group, trying to upstage them, you will have even less
cooperation. (My own experience with the local police has been positive.
They just receovered a stolen car for me by good police work.)

The hard part is balancing the man/woman-hours of surveilance time and other
effort against the odds that someone will actually be caught. This may be
one of the reasons you're not getting enthusiastic support from the campus
police. To them a bike is just a few-hundred-dollar object. Worth about
the same as a woman's purse with money in it, or a lap-top computer. They
have to allocate their available resources as effectively as they can. And
many departments are understaffed.

So, I suggest you approach them with the attitude that you are trying to
make their job easier, to expand their resources, and to work WITH them. I
would also give them the message that their skill and expertese is needed,
and will be respected.

Just my $.03.

Leo Lichtman wrote:
I don't know
why so many responses exhibit a negative image of the police.

i don't know that it's a negative image per se, but as most of us who have
had a bike stolen know, it just ain't a priority for them. & in all fairness
they do probably have more important things to do (the cynic would of course
point that finding stolen cars is listed as one of them). i may as well have
alerted them to someone calling me names. they most likely won't help you
here.
--
david reuteler

2) Stupid, desperate kids (the bike thieves, of course!) can be very
dangerous. If you go it alone, you're playing a potentially high-stakes
game

Agreed, who knows if the losers have like, knives or something. That
definitely scares me.

Mike

It's funny.. Campus Police infact went on strike today, and they have a
picket line and ****.

I have enough problems with regular cops (they confiscated a digital camera
from me and wiped the memory card for taking pictures of them arresting
someone, then claimed I was intoxicated and threw me in jail for the
night)... It seems like it is a job that appeals to highschool bulleys.. and
those are the last people I wish had power in this world.

Mike

Good points man... and yeah, I'm in Canada

Mike

"Chris B." wrote in message
...
On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 01:39:20 -0500, "Mike Beauchamp"
wrote:

I just don't know what to do once we actually see them cut a lock and try
to
take the bike... Would we secretly follow them and use a cell phone to
inform the police? Or would we just tackle them right there and hold them
until the police come?

Maybe I could approach the police before and tell them what we are
planning,
and maybe they'll offer an officer to be with us for a few hours?

To put it bluntly, you'd stand a better chance of winning this weeks
lottery jackpot. I'm not sure where you are but I can assure you that
the police don't give a ****.

What you suggest means that they would have to squeeze out from behind
the steering wheel of their cruisers just to deal with another human
turd and worse, have to deal with more paperwork. Why the hell would
they bother if they're going to get paid anyway?

Seriously, you're likely to encounter more resistance from the police
than the thieves.

Either way, I think it's ****ing stupid that so many bikes get stolen and
absolutely nothing seems to be happening to stop it. Yet, millions of
dollars are spent in undercover operations trying to bust people for
buying
pot or something.. makes no sense.

Yes, many victimless crimes seem to be enforced more strongly than
things like bike theft which are essentially ignored. Don't you live
in Canada? Consider: If you lay a finger on the thief you can bet
the cops will show up in a flash and will likely charge *you* as well
or instead.

Seriously, so-called law enforcement really has no interest in
actually reducing the crime rate; this would in fact be quite
counterproductive for them and their massive budgets. This is part of
the reason that more things are made illegal all the time.

--
"Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its
victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under
robber-barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber-
baron's cruelty may at some point be satiated; but those who
torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they
do so with the approval of their own conscience."

- C.S. Lewis