Home > Crime > Man Steals Bicycle Back After Seeing It Advertised On Craigslist

Man Steals Bicycle Back After Seeing It Advertised On Craigslist

May 14, 2012 at 1:20 pm by Morbid

Washington, DC – After writing all the details regarding the woman who finger bangs 5-year-old girls, I searched for a bit of brain bleach and ran across a story about a man who took the law into his own hands after he found his stolen bicycle for sale on Craigslist.

Danny Lesh said that he purchased his Cannondale hybrid for $600 in 1998 and that it was stolen last week after he loaned it a friend. The friend secured the bike with a cable lock and thief relieved Lesh’s friend of his bike with a pair of bolt cutters. Shortly after, Lesh scoured Craigslist and found his bicycle for sale for $100. He identified his bike by a distinctive sticker and custom pedals.

He contacted police for help, but a stolen bike wasn’t on their list of priorities and they informed Lesh they would not be able to assist him right away. Fearing the bike would be quickly purchased at such a low selling price, Lesh hatched an elaborate plan to get his bike back.

The first part of his plan was simply contacting the seller posing as an interested buyer and arranging a place to meet. After introductions, Lesh asked if he could test drive the bike, to which the man agreed. Once Lesh was on his bike he initiated the final, and most complicated part of his plan — and simply rode off without paying.

I know, kind of anti-climatic, but I thought it was funny. Police warn people to never try and retrieve stolen property on your own, but Lesh has no regrets.

“I knew I had to do it that day, or else I’d never see the bike again,” Lesh said in an interview. “This guy finally started calling me, and left a message saying he was going to call the police,” he added, laughing.

In response, Lesh created a Craigslist ad of his own, warning others about the alleged thief and cautioning potential buyers regarding deals that seem to be too good to be true. They often are and can leave you in the possession of stolen property.

“I couldn’t help feeling bad for all the other people he’d stolen bikes from,” Lesh said. “I’m glad that, hopefully, his business is interrupted a little bit.”

Tags: bicycle, Craigslist, Crime, Danny Lesh, Theft, thief

35 Comments

Comments

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blubberdong

I hate thieves almost as much as I hate sick fucks that finger little kids…a good story for a change, thanks Morbid.
Pyncky

Cooll Beanz
AssWho?

Good Job fella. My phone just got sticky fingered last night from my car, Was thinking along the same lines but with a bit more knee capping in my version
CT

Great, I just listed a baby stroller of mine on Craiglist DC just this morning. OK, so this woman is coming to my house on Friday. If you don’t hear from me by next Monday – I’ve been murdered and my new summer sandals will all be listed on Craiglist. Size 8 1/2 and lots of them. Be on the lookout.
Lind Say

Initiate final plan…. RIDE AWAY!
Steph[anie]

I’ve heard stories like this before in regards to bikes on Craigslist.
I wish that asshole would have called the police because he does seem stupid enough to do so. Now THAT would make a great story, “Dipshit Thief Calls the Police to Report Stolen Property Stolen”
People would read the headline and think, “HA! That editor messed up good! Stolen property is ALWAYS stolen! WHAT A DUMBFUCK!” They would then read the story and say to themselves, “Aww man. I hate when I am wrong in these situations, but at least I’m not a dumbfuck like this thief right here.”

Yeah, I’m tired. Anyway, good for this guy! Funny how if the criminal had reported the bike stolen the police would have basically said that it was not a top priority…-
Wait a minute…what if he did?! I wonder if there is a police report somewhere in D.C. that this criminal filed to get back the bike that he stole?! HAHAHAHAHA! I need sleep.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Would have been a better story if he had kicked the guys ass for stealing his bike … but alls well that ends well.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Would have been a better story if he had kicked the guys ass for stealing his bike … but alls well that ends well.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Why you having strangers come to your house ? Stop being lazy – meet these people at a public place like a shopping center.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XKMAEMPVJ5T2Y35HKYTNG7I6SY Cedric

Selling a stolen bike,the guy was doing it wrong … or was he ?
OutOfBubbleGum

I always buy my stolen bikes with stolen money.

The next time you get in your car, if your change is missing, you maybe a victim of the OutOfMoneyGun bandit whose no relation to me. Of course, like the Peter Parker to Spiderman or Clark Kent to Superman, or (just shut up Sam already and get on with it), we’re never seen at the same place at the same time. Also, if I do say so myself, I’m better looking. Take it from me, people hate talking to anyone wearing a mask. Believe me, I heard this from a friend (wink. wink.).
Zazen

Thanks CT, I wear the same size and I hope I find some good deals!
CT

They are meeting my spouse – not me. The last thing I feel like doing on a Friday night is dragging that stupid ass double stroller into my car and to the local Giant. That is why I am getting rid of it – it takes up too much fucking room.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Trisha-Doran/1055147616 Trisha Doran

Good for him!
kimbev69

i woulda showed up with a few cousins of mine from down in ptown…they love this kinda shit
kimbev69

you are a nut
TheAlphaSoup

Just watched the Avengers the other day, and this guy shoulda been in it.
sugarpie

You should not lend your bike to your friends…
TruTruTrue

Shhhhhidd! I need to get on Craiglist to score a Cannondale for $100.. Lataz… :•P
JohnQknowitall

I wish someone would steal all the bikes from those rude mother fucker douche bag bicyclists in DC and sell them cheap in NYC or even better Newark.
EveryVillainIsLemons

I hope that the thief did file a police report. What a moron!
DangerousKindOfSnark

It’s wrong that I’m kinda hoping she does you isn’t it? Yea, it is, sorry.
JGo555

*Clears throat & the in a baritone voice sings*

SUCK MY DICK!
JGo555

A CROWBAR HANDY IN EVERY ROOM.

Right? @CTCT:disqus
newstarshipsmell

You know, as awesome and hilarious as this story is, I have to say… It’s not impossible that the craigslist ad could have been offering someone’s legitimate property (unlikely, yes, considering the low price, but not impossible) and if this guy ended up stealing someone else’s bicycle just because he was certain it was his, earning a criminal record over a $600 theft seems like a poor deal. I hope his bicycle had some sort of uniquely identifying markings or modifications on it that let him verify he wasn’t simply stealing someone else’s bike.

It does really suck that the cops basically blew him off, in his mind forcing him to act to recover his property. Doubtlessly, a stolen, older automobile worth not much more than this bike would have received a much different response from law enforcement had it turned up for sale online.
JGo555

All of your comments.

I must be stupid because I always fail to connect the imaginary dots, you seem to draw.

Out of the 271 comments, I remember only one that was GOOD & made sense.
AssWho?

—”Lesh scoured Craigslist and found his bicycle for sale for $100. He identified his bike by a distinctive sticker and custom pedals.”—
Like those kind of distinguishing characteristics?
newstarshipsmell

Don’t worry JGo, it isn’t just you. A lot of his comments either aren’t funny and/or don’t make sense (to me, either.) But, I think you’re being unfair saying “only one” – I can think of numerous jokes he’s made that nearly fell me from my chair. When he’s spot on, he’s fucking spot on.
newstarshipsmell

Dammit.
JGo555

I said I was stupid cause to me it was that “Only One” that I remeber that was funny to me. Some times they DO make sense but I didn’t watch the movie or I’m not into said thing & that’s why they’re not funny to me.
http://truecrimereport.com iLLusionS

Sounds like a plan to me!
CT

You got it!
CT

Yes, it is but being me and all, I’d be there with you if it weren’t me.
sherrdbw

I would be afraid of letting someone come to my house because of the potential for a push-in robbery, rape or worse. I would meet at a busy store parking lot or maybe a PD station.
sherrdbw

Or a shotgun.