A sad commentary

Most of you have heard of my son Brandon by now. His 8th grade class went on a trip to Marine World on Tuesday. He had a great time, until he returned to the school to find that his bike had been stolen, along with four other bikes. The school had a locking cage for the bikes, but for some reason when they opened it after school, they decided to leave it unlocked. Then the thieves just helped themselves. I found him walking home from school with tears streaming down his face. He explained to me what happened, and I called the police. They basically told me that if I didn’t see who stole the bike, then there was nothing they could do about it.

The next day my wife called the school to see what thy planned to do, and they bluntly said nothing. They said they are not responsible for the kids bikes. To make things worse, he rode his no-ped to school to school the following day, and during school hours it was stolen too! My gut urge is to file a small-claims suit against the school. They provided a locked area for the bikes and knew that they had kids with bikes that would not be returning until after 7pm that night, but left the cage unlocked and unattended. This is negligence in my eyes.

And the attitude of the police…they asked me what happened, and they asked if I saw who stole the bike. I told them I wouldn’t be calling them if I did. They said “Well, if you didn’t see anyone, then there’s really nothing we can do” She said she’d send me some paperwork to fill out that they’d put on record, and gave me a number to call where they store lost and found bikes. But she said not to get my hopes up. Whatever happened to the police getting off their asses (excuse the French) and doing some investigation to see if anyone else might have seen anything? Now we the citizens who pay their salaries have to do their work for them? Just because this isn’t a drug bust, or a convenience store robbery doesn’t mean it isn’t important?

If you think it’s not important, then spend some time looking into the sad eyes of a child who has been violated. Who had something stolen for him something that he values very much. Tell him that you don’t have the time to “look into it”. Make him understand that.

I went out yesterday and bought him a new bike. It’s not nearly as good as his other one. That was a gift from his BIL, and has been modified into a racing bike. It had all the bells and whistles on it. I’ll never be able to replace it. But most importantly, I’ll never be able to replace his faith in people, That will have to come in time, lots of time.

Sad, isn’t it?

Thanks for listening,
Greg



"Beauty is truth, truth is beauty - that is all you know on earth, and all you need to know"

((((((((((((((Greg and family)))))))))))))))

I am so sorry this happened. It is terrible that the police aren't doing anything about it. I know that in this area there was a rash of stolen bikes and the police do treat it as important as it should be.... it is theft.

Any idea that I have (what they did here) was put a story in the paper about a boy who did have his bike stolen (it was locked to their front doorstep). Is this something you could try? I know the next day the bike was found as a parent noticed their son had a "new" bike all of a sudden. Call your local paper and see if this is something they could do.....it may draw enough attention to it.

Tell your son how sorry I am.

xoxo


Heather

I would be DEVASTATED if my bike were stolen, and I'm not 12 and can buy my own bike!!!! I'd rather have them steal my car!

Have you checked with your homeowner's insurance company? I'm not sure that a kid's bike would make it worth the claim, but you can certainly try.

Heather's idea of writing a letter to the newspaper is a good idea. Also, try http://www.craigslist.com - there is a huge bike community in the Bay Area and I think you'll get a lot of community support through that website -- I see postings like that often.

Good luck Beep. I'm sorry about the bike and the no-ped. Tough lesson to learn at only 12.

We are ALL going to be a-ok!

So sad to hear this.

I'm interested to know if you find out anything about a law suit. With my "Judge Judy" expertise there certainly is an "expectation" of safety, and leaving the cage unlocked was clearly negligence. It would be different if someone had broken into the cage.

When the kids put their bikes in the cage to they lock them individually too? If they don't, because they assume the cage is there to protect them, that might be a point too. If they knew the cage might be left open they might have taken the opportunity to secure the bike within the cage.

Unless there is somewhere a "not responsible for stolen or damaged stuff" clause somewhere... and I assume they don't make parents sign a waiver before the kids store their bikes there. Even if there is such a clause there is still an expectation that the school is going to do its part by locking the cage. Even a contractual waiver doesn't give them license to be negligent.

If you can, take a picture of the bike cage... I'm wondering if you pursue this the school might add a sign that says "not responsible..." (assuming there isn't one there now) and if it went to court and they had pictures with the sign and you had pictures without the sign... lets just say that Judge Judy would seize the opportunity to "take them down".

That's all really unimportant though... most important is your son. Glad this didn't involve anything that injured him physically. I really think he'll be OK because he has a Dad that is supportive. I honestly know lots of kids who's dad would actually yell at them if their bike was stolen, like it was their fault, and wouldn't to anything to replace it, let alone look out for their emotional well being.

------------------------------------
--http://www.idexter.com

{{{{{{{{{Greg}}}}}}}}}} If it was me, I'd lodge complaints against the police department and a suit against the school!!

What's with the police?? So if someone breaks into your house and robs you blind, but you don't see them because you were gone, there's nothing they can do??? What if someone comes in and kills someone in your family (God forbid!!) and no one saw the killer; there's nothing they can do????? That's BS in it's purest form!! Call the police chief for starters! Take it to the mayor of the town and all City Government! Raise a stink worse than the cops BS!! Remind them that they are there to SERVE and to PROTECT!

JUDAS H. PRIEST!! The apathy in this country!!




<font color=blue>"Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt" --Shakespeare</font color=blue>

Please tell Brandon I am sorry, that is so appalling!!! ((((((((((((((((((((((Greg and family))))))))))))))))))))))

Love,
Bear
xxoxx

I'm sorry, Greg. It is a hard lesson to learn at any age, least of all 12, that sometimes your faith in people is not warranted.

I would definitely do something about that cage area and their lack of caring. That's ridiculous - the kids can't even trust something on school property these days.

Give your son lots of hugs {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Brandon}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}, and you are an awesome Dad for caring so much.

Mary Alice

<font color=blue>To see the wonders of our world, look at it through the eyes of a child</font color=blue>

If the school could keep it locked during the day, they could have kept it locked again till the kids and your son got back that night. I would hold them at least partially responsible. I mean, why should "bike security" change after normal school hours--when in fact, your son and others were on a school-sponsored trip?

Unfortunetly, BP, I've known about this attitude of Police for a while now. When I married my ex, he was a police officer--but really not the kind that usually goes on the streets. He did mostly but not always desk work. (He later left that job to do something else.) I've heard many stories! This is sad that the police won't "waste their time" on "unimportant" stuff like a stolen bike. They won't always help with a missing person, either. A friend was missing once, but the police wouldn't do anything--not even file a report. Yet there is another case where they were on a friend's @ to get her broken-down car moved--parked on the gravel shoulder of a rural road. What's also interesting is that my ex mentioned one officer he had worked with who was hired, despite not passing the psych eval of the interview/testing. This person was never under any psych counseling. I had met him a few times long ago, and he was to say the least, interesting. I remember he had this fascination with weapons, like military-style. Nice, funny guy in general, a little crazy. I know that police officers often are subject to mental health issues, but I have to wonder what determines if an officer is hired when s/he doesn't pass the psych eval? I can only hope it's the severity being mild or slight. And then, why wouldn't the officer be required to undergo counseling?

i agree with the ohters contacting yoru local paper and the parents of the ohter kids who's bikes' got stolen and putting a story in the paper might bring some light..

Ozzie is right too.. "MIGHT" is the key word.. But it is worht a try,, I know you live in a big town but hey, a step is a step.. and losoing a way to school is not a easy thing to replace..

I am so sorry this has happend to you Greg and Family.. I truly am..
<marquee> <font color=purple> (((((((((((((((((( hugs and hugs )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) </marquee>

<font color=purple>
take time to heal thyself before trying to help others, or you will never get better

This is very sad, Brandon and th other kids, I am sure felt comfort that the school was keeping things secure, maybe they didn't feel that or thought about that but they did have a safe feeling and now that has been taken from them, grrrrrrrrrrr!
You are so right about the police's attitude, let them look into those beautiful, sad eyes and tell him. . . oh man, I get so angry when cops get that attitude, like when my car was stolen from me at gunpoint back in the 70's the cops interogated me like I did it, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! The truth was they didn't want to chae after the robbers down the hwy knowing they were armed, but yet they knew what direction they were going on the hwy., ah, I better not get started on that piece of history. The point is this poor child (Brandon) and the other kids have been ripped off, now have gained a strong feeling of mistrust and just downright sad.
Kids shouldn't have to deal with this, they should be allowed to be kids and have fun.
Well, Gre, I do not know what to say, except I feel so sorry for Brandon, thank God he has parents like you and your wife to help him through this.
I almost can cry thinking of this young boy's sadness, give him some extra hugs from us here. . . our children are priceless, they are the future, may they be safe and loved forever, and forever is a long time
Love to you and yours,

DE

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON

{{{Greg & Brandon}}}

So sorry to hear...no advice to add--you've gotten lots already, just wanted to let you know I read and am thinking of you and your son.



<font color=purple>Pain can indeed be a beautiful thing</font color=purple>

My PC blog
Caution: it contains copious profanity

sorry to hear this Greg. I wish I could give Bran a big hug. If he's got you and Mary, don't worry, his faith in people will stay strong. It's the people at home who count the most and you guys are awesome.
love ya
boo

"hold me now, I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking......maybe six feet ain't so far down"