Is it a crime?

I was comin home yesterday from work, like 4 in the morning, I was going to pull into my driveway off the public street when there was a mountain bike just laying on the street by house where I sometimes park. I almost ran it over, if I wasnt lookin i woulda ripped my oil pan off from this damn bike. I was kinda pissed that someone would put a bike there to block me from parking out there. This was no cheap mountain bike. Im not gonna say what kind but, there it layed. Anyways, I park my truck and waited like 20 minutes for someone to come get it. Well, long story long, I did. I went out there and took it. Looked like someone lost it off the back of thier bike rack and didnt know it type of thing. So I went out to the street and took that mountain bike for myself. Is that theft? A bike left in the middle of the street? Can a cop or someone let me know because im pissed at that littering, and or the balls of my neighbor to claim a spot on the street like that because theres only parking on one side of the road where I live. Is the street fair game in a way as a lost item is concerned? Now dont get me wrong...i understand a car...well you have to open a door or trespass a treshold for entry of property. But whats the word on the street, I dont get it? Like finding a wallet...or money in the parking lot?

 

Report it to the police, you don’t know the story behind the bike, it might be stolen.

 

It could already be stolen and left by the perp from his porch pirate scouting when his ride picked him up.

All kinds of reasons it could be there. And reserving a parking place would be at the bottom of the list.

Look at the bottom of the crank housing where the serial # usually is. Any other ID markings?

Personally, if a sweep of the neighbors doesn't turn up an owner (who can prove ownership), I'd take it to the police station and tell them where you found it. Like other 'found' things, if they don't get a report of a stolen bike with that ID after x days, they'll likely call you to come get it.

 

Yes, it’s not yours. You’re appropriating someone’s property, unsure how to get it to the real owner, if you leave it lay, SOMEBODY will pick it up if it’s a nice bike.

 

Let's assume it was you who lost or had that bike stolen, what you would want someone who found it to do?

 

Ya Im gonna ask the neighbors if its thiers, i work nights and my next days off are starting thursday. Ill ask them then if they know about a lost bike. Im not a thief but I was just kinda angry kind of. It was cold as shit and i wanted to park there. I also put an ad on cl for a found bike if they can match the make model and color ill give it back for sure.

 

You sound like a child

 

Ok...and...?

 

In Pennsylvania the CS (Criminal Statutes) state...


More specifically, 18 Pa. C.S. § 3924, titled Theft of Lost or Mislaid Property, states that it is a crime to take control of property that a person knows has been lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake if the person does not take reasonable measures to return the property to the lawful owner.

You’re doing the right thing trying to find the owner. You’re upset because you feel that someone put it there on purpose, you might be totally off base on that assumption.

It’s possible that the bike might be related to another crime(s), I’d contact the local PD sooner rather than later.
Some douche bag might have stole the bike and committed a burglary, theft, rape or whatever and that’s where they dumped their stolen transportation.
You might be sitting on an important piece of evidence.

 

I would contact the police and let them know you found it. They can tell you what to do. You dont want to get caught riding it by the owner someday without having at least gone to the police about it. That way if the owner accuses you of stealing, the police will have it on record that you attempted to find the owner.

Around here anything left by the curb is considered unwanted/trash and there are people that will drive around and pick up the stuff. I have to make sure my kid doesnt leave his toys or bike in the yard by the curb overnight cause it will be gone in the morning.

 

I dunno abou that lost property at a police station...dont they just auction it off after some time?

 

It could have just as well been another Tacoma then you would have a real find.But as luck would have it the guy is most likely a member of TW and now knows where his bike is.

 

Well thats what Im hoping kind of. To take a reasonable approach to find the owner.

 

Try running newspaper add in Lost and Found!

 

we used to auction off ours every couple of years.

 

I put an ad on craigslist in my area for a found bike.

 

It’s all good dude, clearly Bannerman doesn’t know the definition of a child - considering children wouldn’t come on TW asking for an opinion because you have a conscious...

Glad to see you’re not a dick who’d steal it and want to do the right thing. Props.

 

All im sayin is Im trying to be a good person and not a dirtbag.

 

Ya i dont understand the personal attack there but, im okay with it I guess.

 

That is right, most states have laws in place that say it's your burden to make an attempt to find the rightful owner. Even if it costs you money! I was surprised to learn this when I came across some lost ice fishing gear worth some pretty big money.