Bike kidnapping for a ransom

**Conquiztador** · 1st November 2007, 15:55

Was chatting with a friend last night re bikes (as you do). He has plans of upgrading to a more expensive cruizer bike. We got on to the security problems where we all admit that if they want to take it they do.

His answer was to stop the opportunist by having a decent lock etc on it. But outside that he relies on insurance. I can se his point. But as I tend to personalise my bikes, if someone steals her, they steal a part of me!

So I said that I have always been a big believer in full customising where all parts are so one off that even broken apart the bike will be almost impossible to sell. (Think 120 spoke s/s wheels, one off frame, hand made triple trees, hand made exhaust system, tank, fenders, and list goes on)

He smiled and said that sadly it would work against me as today there is the ones who specialise in Bike Kidnapping. Apperently they steal your bike then contact you and say: "You can have her back for $x thousand".

Phuck it, I commented. I would have a few JD's grab a few mates and make sure they did never kidnap anything again.

He smiled again and told me that they focused on ppl with families and if I was to do something like this my family would suffer. I broke out in could sweat thinking that someone could sink this low, that if I did not pay a ransom for my bike, but beat the shit outta them, they would harm my children!!

Police I said. There is the answer. He again smiled and said: "No. They are not interested".

This now started to sound like a dead end where all us decent bikers were the loosers, so I said: "Hearsay, urban legends"

Once again he smiled (I had by now started to hate his smile...) and said: "Sadly no". Then he told me about his brothers sporty (I know his brother, a very fit guy with more muscles then my family has together). He also named one other here in HB that had been down this track. AND he named the one who had made an art of this.

I had names and facts. OK, so I have not done the research (apart from asking the brother who tells me that the story is true).

I am now sitting here wondering what, if anything, can be done about these azzholes.

Needless to say,the bottom of my enthusiasm for the next project fell out.

**Mountlocal1** · 1st November 2007, 16:09

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Was chatting with a friend last night re bikes (as you do). He has plans of upgrading to a more expensive cruizer bike. We got on to the security problems where we all admit that if they want to take it they do.

His answer was to stop the opportunist by having a decent lock etc on it. But outside that he relies on insurance. I can se his point. But as I tend to personalise my bikes, if someone steals her, they steal a part of me!

So I said that I have always been a big believer in full customising where all parts are so one off that even broken apart the bike will be almost impossible to sell. (Think 120 spoke s/s wheels, one off frame, hand made triple trees, hand made exhaust system, tank, fenders, and list goes on)

He smiled and said that sadly it would work against me as today there is the ones who specialise in Bike Kidnapping. Apperently they steal your bike then contact you and say: "You can have her back for $x thousand".

Phuck it, I commented. I would have a few JD's grab a few mates and make sure they did never kidnap anything again.

He smiled again and told me that they focused on ppl with families and if I was to do something like this my family would suffer. I broke out in could sweat thinking that someone could sink this low, that if I did not pay a ransom for my bike, but beat the shit outta them, they would harm my children!!

Police I said. There is the answer. He again smiled and said: "No. They are not interested".

This now started to sound like a dead end where all us decent bikers were the loosers, so I said: "Hearsay, urban legends"

Once again he smiled (I had by now started to hate his smile...) and said: "Sadly no". Then he told me about his brothers sporty (I know his brother, a very fit guy with more muscles then my family has together). He also named one other here in HB that had been down this track. AND he named the one who had made an art of this.

I had names and facts. OK, so I have not done the research (apart from asking the brother who tells me that the story is true).

I am now sitting here wondering what, if anything, can be done about these azzholes.

Needless to say,the bottom of my enthusiasm for the next project fell out.

Mite be a little un PC of me but.... Do I hear a shot gun getting loaded??? Its very hard for someone to hurt your family when you hurt them first...

PC version..
I had a friend who stored his in a secure lockup facility that was under 24hr surveilance. Also you could fit a GPS to it (hidden somewhere) then call the cops with a location. I know of another guy that had a covered/locked pit in his garage with a bike jack on the bottom that raised and lowered the bike after entering a code.

Just an idea... Theres always a way... The worst thing would be to let the fear of loosing it stopping you building and enjoying it.

**Conquiztador** · 1st November 2007, 16:14

Originally Posted by Mountlocal1

Mite be a little un PC of me but.... Do I hear a shot gun getting loaded??? Its very hard for someone to hurt your family when you hurt them first...

PC version..
I had a friend who stored his in a secure lockup facility that was under 24hr surveilance. Also you could fit a GPS to it (hidden somewhere) then call the cops with a location. I know of another guy that had a covered/locked pit in his garage with a bike jack on the bottom that raised and lowered the bike after entering a code.

Just an idea... Theres always a way... The worst thing would be to let the fear of loosing it stopping you building and enjoying it.

Ai, I am not gonna let someone like this stop me. To late now for that. And I know all there is to know re bike security (did my part in an earlier thread re this)

My point was more that I had not even considered the option that someone could kidnap my bike for a ransom... It made me feel powerless. It was to me a totally new angle. (I do find it strange that I had never come across this or even contemplated that someone would do this)

**surfer** · 1st November 2007, 16:16

That is super scary stuff to read Conquiztador; I hope it is urban legend.

**Conquiztador** · 1st November 2007, 16:19

Originally Posted by surfer

That is super scary stuff to read Conquiztador; I hope it is urban legend.

Sorry surfer. It is not. I asked my mates brother and he told me it was true, all the way including that the cops were not interested even when they were told where the bike was...

And as I said, I was given full name of one more here in HB who had it done to them, plus full name of one crim that specialises in this.

**Mountlocal1** · 1st November 2007, 16:26

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Sorry surfer. It is not. I asked my mates brother and he told me it was true, all the way including that the cops were not interested even when they were told where the bike was...

And as I said, I was given full name of one more here in HB who had it done to them, plus full name of one crim that specialises in this.

I guess people are just stooping to lower and lower levels to make a fast buck... These are the sort of people that will knock an 80 yr old lady over on her way home from the supermarket and steal her purse... Pure bottom feeding filth.

**Headbanger** · 1st November 2007, 16:34

This has been going on for a long long time, Steal ya gear, ask for some money, If ya refuse or go to the cops they burn it.

What surprises me is how people around here underestimate how bad the bad guys are, They don't give a shit about jail time and there is more of them then you.

A mate of mine had his car taken, He was notified by phone that they had it and wanted 3 grand, He told them to get fucked, 5 minutes later they were in his house, Stabbed him in the gut 5 times with a spike, gang raped and bashed his wife on the bed beside him, raped him, then dragged him under his house to die.

Then they drove off in the car which was found abanded a few days later.

They lived, damaged beyond belief, No one was ever charged, They victim was considered to be an associate of the people involved.

**mitchilin** · 1st November 2007, 17:29

Originally Posted by Headbanger

This has been going on for a long long time, Steal ya gear, ask for some money, If ya refuse or go to the cops they burn it.

What surprises me is how people around here underestimate how bad the bad guys are, They don't give a shit about jail time and there is more of them then you.

A mate of mine had his car taken, He was notified by phone that they had it and wanted 3 grand, He told them to get fucked, 5 minutes later they were in his house, Stabbed him in the gut 5 times with a spike, gang raped and bashed his wife on the bed beside him, raped him, then dragged him under his house to die.

Then they drove off in the car which was found abanded a few days later.

They lived, damaged beyond belief, No one was ever charged, They victim was considered to be an associate of the people involved.

Now that's scary

**Motu** · 1st November 2007, 17:40

Yes it happens,I know a guy who had it happen to him.This guy was a bad arse himself,but had no gang affiliations and was really a great guy under the gruff manner and rough looks.His bike (Triumph he had owned for 20 years) was stolen from his mother's place,and offered back to him.This was personal,face to face with the guy who ran the local chapter of that gang.I spoke to him soon after,and was fucking livid,really blind angry and ready to kill someone,and this guy wouldn't think twice - buy he did.This was a test,any personal retaliation would have painful repercussions,and ongoing...he'd be targeted for a long time.If he went to the police of course they would know who pimped...with the same results.

I got to impress on you that this wasn't a guy to mess with.....but they did.

For me as long as I've owned bike - first step is not to let them know you have a bike.Not many people would know what is in my shed,even my neighbours.A mate of mine goes so far as to load his bike into a van and take it to another place,unload the bike and go for a ride.If you saw this guy you wouldn't mess with him either,but he still takes these extreme precautions.

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 1st November 2007, 17:54

another reason I have a bike nobody else wants...

**jonbuoy** · 1st November 2007, 17:56

Fuck that its a lump of metal when all said and done, thats what insurance is for. Wouldn't risk myself or anyone else's safety over it, even after spending 100's of hours on it.

**tri boy** · 1st November 2007, 19:08

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

He smiled again and told me that they focused on ppl with families and if I was to do something like this my family would suffer. I broke out in could sweat thinking that someone could sink this low, that if I did not pay a ransom for my bike, but beat the shit outta them, they would harm my children!!

Police I said. There is the answer. He again smiled and said: "No. They are not interested".

I'm no Coppa, but I think they would be very interested. Extortion, Ranson, Threatening behavior to families.......

I think Scummy, Patrick etc would like to make "Acquaintances" with these gents.

**Conquiztador** · 1st November 2007, 19:55

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

Fuck that its a lump of metal when all said and done, thats what insurance is for. Wouldn't risk myself or anyone else's safety over it, even after spending 100's of hours on it.

You are missing one vital point: You are not given an option: Pay what we demand and you get your bike back. Don't pay and we will get you...

**Conquiztador** · 1st November 2007, 21:07

Originally Posted by tri boy

I'm no Coppa, but I think they would be very interested. Extortion, Ranson, Threatening behavior to families.......

As mentioned, the police did not want to take any action. Was not told why. But probably of same reason that they do not care about burglaries and car theft I suppose.

But when you consider what the consequences are if you contact the police, would you???