Cyclist steals his own bike NINE times (From Oxford Mail)
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Cyclist steals his own bike NINE times
10:00am Thursday 10th June 2010 in News By Dan Hearn
Chris Graham
A CYCLIST became so fed up with theft in the city he used boltcutters to steal his own bike to see if anyone would notice.
And nobody stopped him. Nine times.
Chris Graham pedalled to nine spots in the city centre just to prove how easy it was for thieves to get away with your bike unchallenged.
The 27-year-old was quizzed just once by a passer-by, who then promptly ignored the student as he sliced through a bike lock.
He said: “I really couldn’t believe I got away with it.
“The first time I did it I was really nervous. But I soon discovered people would rather ignore a bike theft.”
In December, the Oxford Mail revealed bike thefts in the city had risen to their highest level for six years.
Police figures showed 1,380 bicycles were stolen since April 1 last year, the equivalent of more than five a day.
Canadian-born Mr Graham, who is reading history and politics at Oxford University, admitted he was surprised no-one stopped him.
He said: “One man was chaining his bike up about two metres from where I was using boltcutters on mine, and he actually turned his head to look away.
“Only once did someone ask if I was stealing the bike. Even then, I just said yes and cycled off.”
Among the locations Mr Graham targeted last week were outside the Radcliffe Camera, Blackwell Bookshop, in Broad Street and New College – all in the middle of the day.
Mr Graham was filmed by a friend while he stole his bike.
The video shows hundreds of people milling around the city centre, many of whom seemed to be taking no notice of what Mr Graham was doing.
He said: “I’m not criticising people for not doing anything. We’ve all been guilty of that at some stage.
“I think one of the problems is in that situation people just don’t know what to do and if they look away they don’t have to make any decision. It’s sad we feel we can’t intervene anymore, but it’s true of modern life anywhere.”
Mr Graham originally came up with the idea when his bike was stolen in New York.
But after he moved to Oxford to study, he decided to test his theory after being told by friends about thefts in the city.
Thames Valley Police spokesman Danny Donovan said people should always contact police if they see a thief in action.
He said: “We would encourage members of public to call us immediately if they see any crime in progress.
“Our officers would rather investigate an incident that turns out to be nothing, than risk missing the chance to catch a criminal and make our streets safer.”
Mr Graham said: “I’m not saying I would get physically involved, but I think I would now be more inclined to say something.
“If you disturb or draw attention to someone stealing a bike, or committing another crime, they are likely to run off to avoid being caught.
“I guess thieves may think twice if they know people won’t put up with crime.”
Comments(35)
BartSimpson
says...
10:46am Thu 10 Jun 10
Bicester retired
says...
10:51am Thu 10 Jun 10
fat Barry
says...
11:07am Thu 10 Jun 10
I had a bike stolen once, I actually saw the thievs putting it into the back of a red Ford Fiesta hatchback. I memorised the reg. number and went straight to the police to report it. What did they do? sod all.
By coincidence, a week later I saw three youths wheeling my stolen bike down a road close to where it was first stolen. I watched them and saw them take it to a house nearby where another youth started looking it over, etc.
I saw him buy the bike from the thieves and take it into his house. I immediately went back to the police and told them what I'd seen, giving them the address of the house in which my bike was taken. What did they do?. sod all again. I never did get my bike back.
Brian Two-pence
says...
11:56am Thu 10 Jun 10
Or perhaps he 'simulated' a slicing action with his boltcutters on non-existent chains. That would actually have looked a bit strange and not much like a crime was taking place at all.
If he did indeed go through nine bike locks, I would describe that as a rather expensive way to demonstrate a state of affairs that exists in every town and city up and down the country. I would expect the same show of indifference from bystanders if he repeated the trick in a stripy robbers outfit, carrying a big SWAG bag, a giant placard proclaiming 'I am a bike thief', and shouting through a megaphone: "please report me immediately to the police. This is not a publicity stunt, I repeat, this is not a publicity stunt."
benjamin
says...
12:09pm Thu 10 Jun 10
I am not surprised that nothing was said. 1. You stand a good chance of being assulted. 2. As others have said. It is a waste of time reporting such a low level crime. The police wouldn't stir off of their chairs for bike theft.
The Youth are our future
says...
1:12pm Thu 10 Jun 10
wangchung wrote:Good idea, photograph a thief carrying a great big pair of bolt cutters.
Plenty of phones with cameras. Just take a snap folks and ring the police.
Anymore bright ideas?
Victor Meldrew2
says...
1:19pm Thu 10 Jun 10
Lawbreakers have far more rights and more help than lawkeepers and by ignoring crimes you are helping, as the Police then don't have to ignore that crime at a later date.
I'm sure as Mr Graham go's through his Degree and gets to late 20th politics he will see the thinking behind criminals sticking to thieving, mugging and stabbing rather than serious crime like parking, speeding and dropping litter as these offences don't actually provide much cash but have the severest penalties reserved for them.
sundance69
says...
1:30pm Thu 10 Jun 10
I used to cycle thsi city loads, but pyscho Stagecoach drivers make this town impossible, a driving instructor I knew referred to Cyclists as MHPs - Mental health problems
coca cola
says...
1:39pm Thu 10 Jun 10
If you people worry about leaving your bike locked up in the town centre or anywhere.... one simple thing to do..................
. dont ride!
And another thing Mr Chris Graham, you really neeed to get out more mann and grow up!
digdog
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1:55pm Thu 10 Jun 10
LadyPenelope
says...
3:04pm Thu 10 Jun 10
coca cola wrote:Well how about you let us all know your address, and Chris Graham can pop round with his bolt cutters and take yours. We'll let your neighbours know that you said it was ok...
right robbing a bike is hardly crime of the century people isit? There are far worse things going on for the police too worry about rather than a stupid bike!! If you people worry about leaving your bike locked up in the town centre or anywhere.... one simple thing to do.................. . dont ride! And another thing Mr Chris Graham, you really neeed to get out more mann and grow up!
Peter Mcvoy
says...
3:08pm Thu 10 Jun 10
Telboyc
says...
3:32pm Thu 10 Jun 10
coca cola wrote:You're an idiot.
right robbing a bike is hardly crime of the century people isit? There are far worse things going on for the police too worry about rather than a stupid bike!!
If you people worry about leaving your bike locked up in the town centre or anywhere.... one simple thing to do..................
. dont ride!
And another thing Mr Chris Graham, you really neeed to get out more mann and grow up!
Peter Mcvoy
says...
3:41pm Thu 10 Jun 10
Telboyc wrote:Looks like his comment woke a few people up. I wonder if the trade mark lawyers are looking into the unauthorised use of a well known soft drink.
coca cola wrote: right robbing a bike is hardly crime of the century people isit? There are far worse things going on for the police too worry about rather than a stupid bike!! If you people worry about leaving your bike locked up in the town centre or anywhere.... one simple thing to do.................. . dont ride! And another thing Mr Chris Graham, you really neeed to get out more mann and grow up!You're an idiot.
Canterbury_Yellow
says...
4:54pm Thu 10 Jun 10
Telboyc wrote:Well said Telboyc.... What a fool! Coca-cola is probably one of the city's bike thieves!
coca cola wrote: right robbing a bike is hardly crime of the century people isit? There are far worse things going on for the police too worry about rather than a stupid bike!! If you people worry about leaving your bike locked up in the town centre or anywhere.... one simple thing to do.................. . dont ride! And another thing Mr Chris Graham, you really neeed to get out more mann and grow up!You're an idiot.
Canterbury_Yellow
says...
5:01pm Thu 10 Jun 10
mx5
says...
7:01pm Thu 10 Jun 10
Synthesizer Man
says...
8:35pm Thu 10 Jun 10
wend
says...
1:40am Fri 11 Jun 10
abingdonC
says...
10:10am Fri 11 Jun 10
Either left too long on University property, students themselves are often cutting off the locks.
It seems if the frame is locked then the expensive bits get removed, leaving remains behind.
Darren_2010
says...
10:29am Fri 11 Jun 10
coca cola
says...
11:00am Fri 11 Jun 10
for starters, u could all come round my address with ur bolt cutters and whatever else u want, but u wudnt get far, seeing as i dont have a bike!
and im not one off the bike theives in town centre, but if anyone needs a bike i can get them for £20, any offers?
lastly the reason i havent got a bike is beacause iv got a car!!!!!!!!!
coca cola
says...
11:00am Fri 11 Jun 10
for starters, u could all come round my address with ur bolt cutters and whatever else u want, but u wudnt get far, seeing as i dont have a bike!
and im not one off the bike theives in town centre, but if anyone needs a bike i can get them for £20, any offers?
lastly the reason i havent got a bike is beacause iv got a car!!!!!!!!!
coca cola
says...
11:00am Fri 11 Jun 10
for starters, u could all come round my address with ur bolt cutters and whatever else u want, but u wudnt get far, seeing as i dont have a bike!
and im not one off the bike theives in town centre, but if anyone needs a bike i can get them for £20, any offers?
lastly the reason i havent got a bike is beacause iv got a car!!!!!!!!!
Vestan Pance
says...
11:32am Fri 11 Jun 10
Pehaps Mr Graham's time would be better spent reading some more history and politics, though potentially he has a promising future as a cycle thief or as a k**bhead!
Oflife
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1:01pm Fri 11 Jun 10
jonny1976
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2:18pm Fri 11 Jun 10
sparky123456
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2:23pm Fri 11 Jun 10
carli
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3:20pm Fri 11 Jun 10
Peter Mcvoy
says...
12:44am Sat 12 Jun 10
Oflife wrote:Mr Graham a hero? You want to get out more mate.
As I just told a reporter from the Mail, last year during broad daylight, I saw and photographed someone attempting to steal a bike. I went to report it to a PCO - but he was too busy issuing a (totally unjustified) £60 penalty notice to a poor foreigner riding his bike (slowly) through Cornmarket Street - I photographed that too. So, two thefts in action, one by a member of the public, the other paid for by the public. Ironically, I had two bikes stolen and one vandalised not long after. Mr. Graham is a hero and needs our support and that of the police.
wangchung
says...
11:48pm Mon 14 Jun 10
The Youth are our future wrote:Yawn.
wangchung wrote:Good idea, photograph a thief carrying a great big pair of bolt cutters.
Plenty of phones with cameras. Just take a snap folks and ring the police.
Anymore bright ideas?
More trollish nonsense from Yoof.
Isisbridge
says...
12:32am Tue 15 Jun 10
wangchung wrote:The thief might have had a bad childhood.
The Youth are our future wrote:Yawn.
wangchung wrote:Good idea, photograph a thief carrying a great big pair of bolt cutters.
Plenty of phones with cameras. Just take a snap folks and ring the police.
Anymore bright ideas?
More trollish nonsense from Yoof.
Brian Two-pence
says...
1:28pm Wed 16 Jun 10
A man with too much time on his hands? - maybe. A hero? I think not.
Also if the police were to 'support' his actions, this would amount to encouraging everyone to go round prentending to commit crimes.
- Where might this lead? Will people start holding banks up only to later plead that they were actually testing police response times and that their actions were in the public interest?
"Sorry mate, I'm not really burgling your house, I'm just testing your home security system with a view to buying my own. I've already done half the street and am planning to publish the results in a paper and give it to the police to inform the community safety advice they give to residents."
newcy
says...
3:03pm Wed 16 Jun 10
wangchung says...
10:10am Thu 10 Jun 10