Possible Bike Theft Scam

[wpistone]

Hi all,
I'm am just passing this along, and do not know if this is factual
Wally:
Buzz Burnett    
<email@bikingbuzz.net> to Cyclo-Vets
Hide options     Oct 27 (13 hours ago)
From: Buzz Burnett <email@bikingbuzz.net>   Signed-By: yahoogroups.com | Mailed-By: returns.groups.yahoo.com
To: Cyclo-Vets@yahoogroups.com
Date: Oct 27, 2008 6:33 PM
Subject: [Cyclo-Vets] Bike Scam Warning
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I am just passing this along, and do not know if this is factual
Buzz

Look 595 Ultra Size L (55,56), Black and White, all dura ace, Look 130mm
stem, deda Aluminum bars.
Serial# S210I6LD10

Be aware of this scam.
I was sitting outside a coffee shop, a guy walked with a pretty nice road
bike and asked me if I could keep an eye on it while he gets coffee.
He comes back out and starts to ask me about the local riding scene. He
tells me he just moved here from Costa Rica, and is staying just up the road
with his uncle, who he tells me owns a bike shop in Long Beach.
After a while I tell him I have to go. He tells me he is going the same way
and will ride part of the way with me.
Part the way up, he says he lives right there, and asked me to hold his bike
while he gets his uncle's shop's business card. Comes back saying he forgot
the house key.
Another guy walks up from down the street, and he introduces him to me as
his cousin who lives around the corner. Then asks his cousin to take his
bike and come back with the business card. So now the cousin is gone with
the first guy's bike.
We wait a little, talk bike stuff, he asks to see how light my bike is, then
to hop on it for a spin "right here".
Yes, he rode away with it.
I didn't want to come across like a jerk. But I guess we should learn to
tell someone that we are not comfortable with other people riding your bike

Thanks,
Daniel

Also today we heard...

The same guy stole another bike on San Vicente with the same scam, and also
tried to steal one of a Helens Cycles customer's bike while that guy was
riding. So he is around, even uses the same name ("Fabian" and speaks w/
poor English).

So please Beware and let Daniel know if you happen to see his Bike!

Look 595 Ultra Size L (55,56), Black and White, all dura ace, Look 130mm
stem, deda Aluminum bars.
Serial# S210I6LD10

Contact info:
Daniel S. Bomfim
Helen's Cycles
Manhattan Beach, California
310-321-5290

_____

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[kellyjay]

I asked Wally, Dave, Tony, Ben, Dan, Karl, Bob, PHil, etc... if I could try out their nice lite carbon rides. Now I know why they always say "later dude".
Guess I'll ask "Fabian" next time!
I wonder what cleats he uses?

go figure...
kelly