FOUND!!! Police has recovered my bike after 8 months

TKDmasterZ · 04-29-2008, 4:16 PM

My 2003 CBR954RR was stolen out of my carport in Northridge on Aug 11, 2007 (it was posted here), and now it has been found. I got a call from the Long Beach Police Department last Saturday that they had found my bike and it can be picked up from the impound. Apparently a guy named Robert House was arrested and will be persecuted. The detective assigned to the case didn't really know much about it...so I don't have the detail on how he was arrested.

But it's not all good news. The bike has been in the yard since last Sat and I couldn't make time to pick up the bike until tomorrow, so I will be paying $210 when I pick it up. ($110 towing + $20 per day storage fee). Long Beach is about 50 miles away from home, and there is tons of traffice in between, so I need to dedicate a half day to get the damn bike home. Also the document says that the bike is in 'poor' condition, and that sounds like I will have to put some $$$ before it is brought back to a good condition.

Oh well. That's life. I'll be sure to post another update once the bike is home. Welcome home sweetheart!!!

sheepofblue · 04-29-2008, 4:29 PM

Sounds like the best news is that some bike thief is going to jail (hopefully). Sucks that they charge storage for a stolen item

Red Rider · 04-29-2008, 4:36 PM

Did you collect on insurance after it was stolen? Glad to hear it was recovered, but prepare yourself for the worst.

.OrgOwner · 04-29-2008, 4:37 PM

Awesome news! And welcome back.

Ol' Gravy Leg · 04-29-2008, 5:15 PM

yeah, i remember your story. hope it's just comestics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

Apparently a guy named Robert House was arrested and will be persecuted.

The doctor on TV?! wow, i hope he's prosecuted, too.

TKDmasterZ · 04-29-2008, 5:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Rider

Did you collect on insurance after it was stolen? Glad to hear it was recovered, but prepare yourself for the worst.

Nah, no insurance. If I had gotten paid, then I wouldn't have to do this...

nedro · 04-29-2008, 6:49 PM

Sue him in court. If he's not a total criminal, you will be able to recover the money one way or another.

IRISH MIKE · 04-29-2008, 7:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nedro

Sue him in court. If he's not a total criminal, you will be able to recover the money one way or another.

...take him to civil court. Or find out when his court dates are and talk to the prosecutor. Maybe he will have to pay restitution as a part of his probation or porole.

Natezlvnit · 04-29-2008, 7:40 PM

Wow, chalk one up for the good guys. Defiantly talk to the prosecuting attorney, in MT restitution is a requirement upon sentencing or included in any plea agreement. I would mention the storage fee and try to have that and transportation costs included.

Ol' Gravy Leg · 04-29-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IRISH MIKE

...take him to civil court. Or find out when his court dates are and talk to the prosecutor. Maybe he will have to pay restitution as a part of his probation or porole.

great call.

rep for that.

i found a guy in my car once. turns out he had come back for a second trip, as he'd already stolen my stereo.

about year after his conviction, a check shows up in the mail for $350. the judge ordered him to pay restitution, and i wasn't even aware.

sure, it's not as glamorous as -Z- not spilling his coffee while clocking a the thief silly with his other hand.

.OrgOwner · 04-29-2008, 11:04 PM

And your into TKD so you might want to loan him out to your local club for some "practice"...

Big Kahuna · 04-30-2008, 11:35 AM

Wow, what is the bike's condition? Did he romp on it or take good care of it?

Maxsurgeon15 · 04-30-2008, 2:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Gravy Leg

yeah, i remember your story. hope it's just comestics.

The doctor on TV?! wow, i hope he's prosecuted, too.

He rides a repsol... Duh

I'm sorry that it was stolen though, take his ass to court and see what you can squeeze out of him!

TKDmasterZ · 04-30-2008, 7:27 PM

I got the bike home. The bad news is that I had to pay $270 to the City of Long Beach to pick up the bike. But to my surprise, the bike is in a fairly good condition. It's missing the right/left fairings and the HyperPro steering damper. Other than it is a bit dirty, the bike is actually in a good shape. It has no damages, and no visible mechanical faults. It also appears that he didn't get to ride much. I remember hitting 21K on the odometer a couple days before it was stolen. It has 21027 miles now. Looks like it spent the last 8 months sitting around somewhere.

In fact, although the ignition switch has been taken off the triple clamp, my key still works. I wonder if it was ridden at all? Could he have started the bike without damaging the ignition switch?

Whatever the case, I just gotta get some clean plastics, install the ignition switch on the triple clamp, change the fluids, and see how it feels.

So I guess I'll be called into the court pretty soon to prosecute this guy. I'll ask the judge if he would make this jerk pay for my loss! How much should I ask for the pain and agony I felt everytime someone rode past me in my cage? Or when I saw those $100 trackday promotions???!!!

ezekiel808 · 04-30-2008, 8:02 PM

congratulations on scoring your bike back

Ol' Gravy Leg · 04-30-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

I got the bike home. The bad news is that I had to pay $270 to the City of Long Beach to pick up the bike. But to my surprise, the bike is in a fairly good condition. It's missing the right/left fairings and the HyperPro steering damper. Other than it is a bit dirty, the bike is actually in a good shape. It has no damages, and no visible mechanical faults. It also appears that he didn't get to ride much. I remember hitting 21K on the odometer a couple days before it was stolen. It has 21027 miles now. Looks like it spent the last 8 months sitting around somewhere.

In fact, although the ignition switch has been taken off the triple clamp, my key still works. I wonder if it was ridden at all? Could he have started the bike without damaging the ignition switch?

Whatever the case, I just gotta get some clean plastics, install the ignition switch on the triple clamp, change the fluids, and see how it feels.

So I guess I'll be called into the court pretty soon to prosecute this guy. I'll ask the judge if he would make this jerk pay for my loss! How much should I ask for the pain and agony I felt everytime someone rode past me in my cage? Or when I saw those $100 trackday promotions???!!!

that's awesome. sounds like it wasn't ridden.

he could have hotwired it, but you'd see cut wires. or, he could have picked the lock, but there are few thieves that know how to do that.

rokitt51 · 05-01-2008, 2:41 AM

Glad u gott'er back

bjay51d · 05-02-2008, 9:08 PM

That sucks when the impound yard sticks it to the victum...After i got my zx10 ack from a theft.I was so mad that I had to pay for that bullshit.If the police towed it there they should pay.

Anyhow,Im glad you got it back i felt your pain when you first posted it was stolen.

Hammer · 05-03-2008, 9:43 PM

Glad you got it back. But I would have taken issue to paying to get my bike back.

jkobflys · 05-03-2008, 10:21 PM

great news man!!!!

rider1221 · 05-04-2008, 1:32 PM

I dont think that I could sit in the same room with that fag....my bike is my baby and if u mess with that..we have serious problems....congrats dude...keep a eye on her

.OrgOwner · 05-06-2008, 7:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

Glad you got it back. But I would have taken issue to paying to get my bike back.

I'm with Hammer on this one, why should you have to pay - Paying any fees at all would be a nice starting point for the clown who made off with your motorcycle.

steingar · 05-06-2008, 7:52 PM

Make him pay the impound, and get a written estimate from a mechanic for the repairs. Garnish his thieving six!

TKDmasterZ · 05-08-2008, 8:44 PM

Apparently City of Long Beach makes it a felony to steal any vehicles, including motorcycles regardless of value, so this guy will get some jail time for sure. Also there is an ordinance in place for the thief to pay all monetary damage incurred due to the crime, so no need to take him to a small claims court. The assigned detective is out of town for the week, so I'll be getting the detailed story on how it was recovered next week.

I have ordered one of those painted, full-fairing sets coming from Hong Kong on Ebay (which I heard it to be a pain to install), so if it works out, the bike should be nice and clean by the time I am done. I'll post pictures.

BoonRC51 · 05-11-2008, 1:46 AM

It's a long awaiting. I am sort of glad that all the hard part is over now but glad you have yoour baby back. Just get her back on the road and don't let that piece of work off the hook that easy.
Cheer!

sugar.fish · 05-13-2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKDmasterZ

Apparently City of Long Beach makes it a felony to steal any vehicles, including motorcycles regardless of value, so this guy will get some jail time for sure.

I wonder which strike this is for the dbag? In any case... big congrats on getting your bike back

Nice to read a happy ending for a change.