So I see stories sometimes where someone has had something of there’s that they need to function, like a bike for commuting, stolen. They then proceed to deal with the loss with some form of “They probably needed it more than me”.

That’s bullshit. Stop it. Some people are removed and it doesn’t matter who you are or what financial position said thief is in, they’re going to take advantage for entirely selfish reasons.

The story.

My brother had a road bike. Spends weekends riding 100km+. He’d spent probably 5k to 6k (AUD) on it. A lot you’d think, but that’s his hobby. It’s that. He goes for a ride one day and stops at a 7/11 for a coffee. In a safe suburb, so he doesn’t lock his bike as he can see it from inside. It gets stolen.

Posts to different bike groups in the city about the details of his bike. It’s pretty recognisable. A couple of weeks pass and no show. Luckily his home insurance policy covers the theft. But he still would rather the bike. Sentiment and it’s unique.

A few weeks further go by and someone contacts him that they’ve seen it on an online trading site. He instantly recognises it’s his bike. Contacts the seller (they have no idea who he is) and arranges to buy the bike. They meet at a safe spot. The carpark of a POLICE STATION. Well. Here we go. Let’s the police know what’s happening ahead of time. Meets in car park. Yep. It’s his bike. Let’s police know and they come out. Seller tries to weasel out of it. “I’ve got receipts. I’ve got serial numbers. Where’s your receipts?” saids my brother. Seller shits themselves and realises they’re fucked. They get to have a nice talk with the police and my brother gets his bike back.

Here’s the kicker. They turned up in a 5 year old Mercedes Benz.

Petty crimes aren’t the domain of poor people struggling financially. Sometimes they’re just removed.