People picking up my motorcycle and moving it

[Panda]

So this happened twice in the past month. I live in Brooklyn near a public parking lot. The parking lot is long and thin and you there are two ways to park.

One is along the curb on the east side of the parking lot and the other is on the west side of the parking lot where they have "rear end in" parking.

I sometimes put my bike at the back of the "read end in" parking. And put my car in front.

It'd look something this like

/ CAR /
/ CAR /
/ CAR /
/Bike /
/_____/

The "CAR" part is a single car parked in the spot.

I used to park like this until somebody physically lifted my bike out of the parking spot and put it on the grass.

I was not thrilled. I was like ok...I'll take some of the blame here since I know people are animals and I'm parking east-west in a north-south parking spot, if you will. Now I park like this.

/ B /
/ I /
/ K /
/ E /
/_____/

Yesterday, I show up and somebody lifted my bike up, shoved it to the back of the parking spot and then PARKED IN FRONT OF MY BIKE.

I was less than pleased.

I realize there is almost nothing I can do. The first time I called the cops and they got back to me three hours later. I don't really have the time to invest in waiting around three hours for the cops to show up.

In my spare time I like to think of ways to exact revenge on these animals.

[fry1024]

Maybe put a cover over it to make it more of a chore to move or attach a vibration sensing alarm on the bike (be careful of this one, he/she may go to move your bike, set off the alarm and then drop you bike).

Video camera! They're so cheap now days.

[Bigballsofpaint]

The least harmful solution is to drain the air out of 1 or more of their tires. This will be an inconvience to them but isnt really harmful and wont cost them anything. They will prob know it was you though, and you can imagine how that may play out....

[alex.s]

call a tow truck and have them towed. if you park in front of someone else blocking them in, you are asking to get towed. you are allowed to have a car towed if they have illegally blocked you in (double parking)

tow trucks make money of towing illegally parked cars so they'll be there within 10 minutes.

[flitecontrol]

Since this has happened more than once, and the last time you pretty much know who did it, why don't you write a non-threatening note in advance explaining why moving your bike is something they shouldn't do. Have a friend or two read it from the standpoint of the perpetrator, and be open to any changes they may suggest. You could then have it ready to leave under a wiper blade the next time it happens. Unless the perpetrator is an absolute jerk, there should be no repercussions from such an action. Remember, people, even New Yorkers, tend to treat others as they are treated.

I'd also take pictures of their vehicle (including their license plate) and yours showing the relative positions and take it to the police. This avoids the long wait for them to get to the scene. Dealing with parking issues is very low on the list of things they have to deal with. Ask them to contact the individual and explain why what they are doing is illegal.

Some people (incorrectly) think that motorcycles aren't entitled to a full parking space because they are small. Enlightening them is a service to all bikers.

[csmith12]

Originally Posted by Panda

So this happened twice in the past month.

Give a notice!

[Flying]

Take pictures, call a tow truck, then leave a paper note where their car used to be.


...ah screw it, call the cops on top of all that.

[ninjamunky85]

Maybe you could rig up an alarm system similar to this one.

[Baron]

Take photographs.
Cover it, make it harder for it to be moved.
Install an alarm system.
Get the car towed.
Install flame throwers to incinerated the soon-to-be-dead-because-you-touched-my-bike bastard.

Best pieces of advice I've read so far.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Panda

.......... In my spare time I like to think of ways to exact revenge on these animals.

Moving out of their territory is the only solution: revenge will not take you far in this case.

They have not done real damage ...... yet.
Just imagine all the bad things that some mean soul can do to a defenseless motorcycle.

Do you have to park there?
Both of your bikes?
Do you have a car or truck to shield the bike with?

[cadd]

Where in bklyn was this? I've lived in bklyn for 30+ yrs. Just curious.

[ftheshack]

Maybe continue to park behind your car like you originally illustrated and then use a motorcycle cable to secure your bike to the rear of your car (axle/bumper/leaf spring. Anything you can attach to). This may present enough discouragement for them to move on and forget about your bike. A little bit of theft deterrent, too!

[Daks]

chain your bike to your car, get an alarm, yadda yadda

definitely call a tow truck on the next person in that spot who double parks your bike. Maybe leave a note on your bike saying you WILL call a tow company if it is moved.

[Hero Danny]

+1 for the bike cover. Once you put a cover it really deters people. Just make sure you get a plain brandless cover, to also revert thieves attention.

Also you could consider a fender alarm. Also maybe leave a note on your windshield "don't move my bike, you are on video surveillance and I WILL find you." lol, that one was a joke... kinda not really. yes it was.

[BlackNinja8]

As much as you might feel satisfied to exact some sort of revenge, just know that it is not worth the risk. Vandalizing your bike cosmetically is about the least evil they could do if they are truly animals.

How often do you check to see whether your axle nuts are still there before a ride? A cut brake line may not spring a leak until you squeeze the lever and you may never notice until its too late. They could disconnect indicator lights and any other number of other things that could end up with you being seriously injured.

[Hero Danny]

Originally Posted by BlackNinja8

As much as you might feel satisfied to exact some sort of revenge, just know that it is not worth the risk. Vandalizing your bike cosmetically is about the least evil they could do if they are truly animals.

How often do you check to see whether your axle nuts are still there before a ride? A cut brake line may not spring a leak until you squeeze the lever and you may never notice until its too late. They could disconnect indicator lights and any other number of other things that could end up with you being seriously injured.

+1 I know it's hard to fight the urge to destroy someone when they touch your precious bike... but your bike isn't worth jail time or possibly getting killed. There are a LOT of crazy people. I've been followed before in my car a few times by these nutt baggs and I even got a gun pulled out on me before... it's NEVER worth getting back at someone...

[Panda]

Yeah I agree it's not worth it do anything to the offending cars. I have a cover on the bike so they either take the cover off and put it back on or physically lift the bike with the cover on.

I keep one of my bikes in a garage and the other I park on the street. Towing is an option but first the police have to come which means waiting for them for three hours.

I can't always leave my car in front of my bike and that's when the people move it.
@cadd it's the parking lot on shore road in bay ridge by 95th street.

[LittleRedNinjette]

Best i can say is a +1 on the alarm.

I can only imagine how frustrating this would be.
People are so disrespectful nowadays. Its pathetic really.

[Hero Danny]

I didn't do any research but a quick amazon search shows that these alarm systems are very inexpensive and have good ratings, I'd look more into them later for you if you want.

http://www.amazon.com/Motorcycle-Sec...torcycle+alarm

http://www.amazon.com/TabStore-DBPow...torcycle+alarm