CharlieB
Junior Walker and the Allstars
- Location
- Therivermeadowatthepileofstones
Not sure if this story should be in the Stolen Bikes forum, as the posts there seem to be from people who've had theirs stolen, but here goes.
Crowded train pulls into Finchley Road train station about 6 last (Thursday) night. I get on with folded Brommie, on my way home. I'm followed on to the train by a guy with grubby white Brompton, not folded. So I'm standing there minding my own business, when after about 3 minutes the guy says to me; 'how much did that cost you, then? I told him roughly how much, slightly surprised at the question..
Guy: 'Where did you get it?'
Me: 'From a shop in Victoria'
Guy: 'Not on-line, then?'
Me: 'No, from a shop'
Guy: 'How many gears have you got' (this is a more normal Brompton owner to Brompton owner enquiry)
Me: 'Six'
Guy: 'I bet that really shifts, then"
Me 'It's pretty quick.' (then, glancing down at his) 'You're OK with three gears, then?'
Guy: 'How do you know that?'
Me: 'Because I can see that'
That's pretty much how the conversation ran, if not verbatim, but by now, alarm bells were ringing.
I don't need to tell people on CC that Brommie owners are a pretty obsessive bunch, who know every detail of how they're set up, the options available, and what they cost. I'm almost certain that they would always fold them on crowded public transport, notwithstanding the fact that at six in the eveing on London Underground, you're not allowed an unfolded bike.
I mentally took a note of his appearance, dress, and when the guy got off at Wembley Park, I called the police, as I felt this could be stolen.
Does anyone else agree with my logic?
Did I do the right thing?
Did I do enough?
Crowded train pulls into Finchley Road train station about 6 last (Thursday) night. I get on with folded Brommie, on my way home. I'm followed on to the train by a guy with grubby white Brompton, not folded. So I'm standing there minding my own business, when after about 3 minutes the guy says to me; 'how much did that cost you, then? I told him roughly how much, slightly surprised at the question..
Guy: 'Where did you get it?'
Me: 'From a shop in Victoria'
Guy: 'Not on-line, then?'
Me: 'No, from a shop'
Guy: 'How many gears have you got' (this is a more normal Brompton owner to Brompton owner enquiry)
Me: 'Six'
Guy: 'I bet that really shifts, then"
Me 'It's pretty quick.' (then, glancing down at his) 'You're OK with three gears, then?'
Guy: 'How do you know that?'
Me: 'Because I can see that'
That's pretty much how the conversation ran, if not verbatim, but by now, alarm bells were ringing.
I don't need to tell people on CC that Brommie owners are a pretty obsessive bunch, who know every detail of how they're set up, the options available, and what they cost. I'm almost certain that they would always fold them on crowded public transport, notwithstanding the fact that at six in the eveing on London Underground, you're not allowed an unfolded bike.
I mentally took a note of his appearance, dress, and when the guy got off at Wembley Park, I called the police, as I felt this could be stolen.
Does anyone else agree with my logic?
Did I do the right thing?
Did I do enough?
