Bicycle theft on the rise

[schumi]

.Bicycle theft is on the rise amid strong belief that those at the high end of the market are destined for foreign markets.

Fred Henning, whose Johannesburg insurance brokerage specialises in bicycles, said he believed organised crime was behind the burglaries and hijackings of the machines.

“A week ago, one worth R165 000 was stolen in the Western Cape,” he said.

Henning said vigilance at border posts had led to thieves stripping bikes and dealing in parts.

Nivesh Doodla, store manager at Hatton’s Cycles in Pietermaritzburg, who intentionally sabotaged his display bicycles in case they were stolen, said he believed they were often destined for Malawi, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Durban cycle shop owner, Greg Albert, believed the rise was because criminals realised the high value of bicycles.

“It's not new, but it's becoming more and more prevalent.”

Proving a bicycle was stolen in the absence of documented serial numbers was difficult.

More at: http://www.iol.co.za/ios/news/bicycle-theft-on-the-rise-8548467

 

[Beachless]

Not new at all there has been a few syndicates operating over the years.

 

[konfab]

Found a picture of a recent perp.

 

[access]

Found a picture of a recent perp.

:crylaugh: ive seen that fo real in Holland! even had a squeak when he was peddling.

 

[Hosehead]

Bicycle prices are simply insane. The exposed price fixing collusion between distributors never bought realistic prices back either.
Most carbon parts come from the same Chinese factory for the different European high end brands.