"John W." wrote:

> Eric Takabayashi <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message news:<3EF046AA.E6F3E4A5@yahoo.co.jp>...
> > "John W." wrote:
> >
> > > From Yomiuri:
> > >
> > > "Hiroshima man admits stealing 1,000 bikes"
> > > http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20030618wo21.htm
> > >
> > > "A 67-year-old man sent to prosecutors on suspicion of stealing about
> > > 20 bicycles has admitted stealing and selling more than 1,000 bicycles
> > > over a 31-year period, The Yomiuri Shimbun learned Tuesday."
> >
> > That's nothing. That's less than one a week over a 31 year period.
>
> I didn't think of it in that way. When taken from that perspective,
> I'd bet this guy's really a small timer.

Yes, you are missing the big criminals in the news. A thousand bikes, or 40,000 yen is not a lot
as crimes go.

The old man could make more money easier by raiding unattended houses. It is reported even lock
picking gangs are going at it the old way and simply breaking windows.

> > A flier I got in my mailbox claimed over 11,500 bicycles were reported
> > stolen in Fukuyama and adjoining Fuchu (which will be assimilated) in a
> > single year, and hundreds of abandoned bikes per season need to be hauled
> > away from near the station.
> >
> > Maybe he was a freeter bike thief.
>
> I'm certain this has been touched on before, but what do they do with
> all those bikes?

As for most thieves, they're probably too lazy to walk, which is why so many bicycles are simply
abandoned around downtown after use.

> Recycle? I'm certain some (small) percentage get
> reclaimed, but do they have police auctions of unclaimed bikes?

In this prefecture anyway, new bicycles are registered for a fee and an official bicycle tag (a
flexible metal band, easily removed) is applied. This is used as identification when a bicycle is
found, and the owner contacted. Bicycles which are hauled away may be sold to the public about
once a season. There are also thousands of unclaimed bicycles parked in neat lines in storage
areas under one underpass and under the train tracks.

I'm wondering where a North Korean ship got an overflowing load of used bicycles to take home.