Thieves Got It All Wrong Robbing Runners

Triathlon Forum
1

I was reading a news story a minute ago about a woman who was robbed while jogging in a park. I was trying to put my mind into the mind of her assailant. How big of a score is this for a thief? What’s she got on her as far as money? What’s the financial angle here, I mean, the gain for this sad vagabond trying to make a score on poor runners?

2 bucks, maybe? A water bottle? Maybe her Ipod shuffle? Or…2 Power gels.

Some runners carry a wallet, but not many, and they hide their car keys.

What kind of retarded, desparate thief hits on runners?

It turns out he was looking for quick cash or coin, but he’s missing a huge booty or treasure here. And its right in front of him, as he curiously looks over that stupid big ugly ass Garmin watch, he doesn’t understand.

Because, if he only knew, if he only knew that some of us are running with a thousand dollars worth of shit on us—we would be stripped and salvaged and fleeced, like an Estate Sale of bankrupt debtor.

“Oh, you want my 2 bucks?”

“Freaking here.”

“Bye.”

To myself: “Whooo, that was close, I just thank god he didn’t steal my Asics Gel Nimbus IX, I just bought for 120 bucks!”

Or these rather cool glove inserts into my Specialized Sub-Zero cycling gloves!

Man, if he only knew! If he only knew. If they truly knew how much all of this shit costs I have on me, on my skin and feet, which some of us wear, he wouldn’t be trying to knock people on the head for a wallet or a couple of bucks.

No.

A savy thief should strip some of us naked and inventory and liquidate all of our gear and equipment. Assuming he could launder it in a secondary market, he’d nab a whole lot more than 2 bucks.

Once this discovery is made, a whole crime wave might appear, and if you listened in you might hear:

Thief: “I’m going to the park with a garbage bag and strip some of these runners!”

Thief 2: “Yeah, I made about 5,00 bucks last week doing that!”

Here’s what I had on the other day. A Hinds Soft Shell Jacket ($100 bucks), UnderArmor breathable Micro-whatever thing (35 bucks). A pair of Asics Dri-fit tights (45 bucks). Asics Gel Nimbus (100 bucks). Asics socks (8 bucks). Garmin Watch (275 bucks). Nike cap (10 bucks). Specialized, water-proof, wind proof gloves (45 bucks). A Nathan water bottle carrier: $25 bucks.

That’s what? 500 bucks or so. And, obviously, your total inventoried value to a thief would be seasonal, because this is winter, and winter requires more expensive gear.

So, the next time you hear about thieves hitting runners for a few bucks, just be glad they haven’t figured it all out yet.

2

One of my scariest moments training was when I ended up in the middle of the ghetto in North Philly with ~$2,000 worth of cycling equipment. Fortunately, I know and THEY know that even though its worth $2K, they wouldn’t be able to unload that kind of merchandice. It’s not their market.

3

Running would be a bad time to rob me, never carry cash and my non running watch is far more expensive than my polar or gps. Depending on the day I may just give those away. Regardless, not sure how much crack/meth you could trade for a garmin. Lucky for the rest of us most muggers/theives in general are not that bright…

4

" savy thief should strip some of us naked and inventory and liquidate all of our gear and equipment. Assuming he could launder it in a secondary market, he’d nab a whole lot more than 2 bucks. "

Is there a big black market to buy high priced running gear from street punks out of the back of a van somewhere?

5

Ebay

" savy thief should strip some of us naked and inventory and liquidate all of our gear and equipment. Assuming he could launder it in a secondary market, he’d nab a whole lot more than 2 bucks. "

Is there a big black market to buy high priced running gear from street punks out of the back of a van somewhere?

6

Is there a big black market to buy high priced running gear from street punks out of the back of a van somewhere?

That’s what ebay is for.

7

One of my scariest moments training was when I ended up in the middle of the ghetto in North Philly with ~$2,000 worth of cycling equipment. Fortunately, I know and THEY know that even though its worth $2K, they wouldn’t be able to unload that kind of merchandice. It’s not their market.

yeah, i can picture that.
there’s some good riding in north philly, but it’s not the sort of riding where fancy equiptment is going to help you.

8

Cool! I wanna be the “active apparel” fence in your town.

I could probably get the mugger to part with all that stuff for $25 and a McDonalds gift card.

What size shoe do you wear?

9

Near as I can tell, Kayanos have hit the hip hop market yet.

10

"Lucky for the rest of us most muggers/theives in general are not that bright… "

Or that fast!! Seriously, I think if I’m planning to roll somebody, I’d probably shy away from athletes, ya know? If they were really that bright, they’d rob old people in expensive suits.

On the flip side was a guy I worked out with in the Chicago suburbs years ago. He was a cop and was chasing a stolen car one night and the guy bailed and started running. My buddy (2:45 marathoner) gets out and jogs about 15 paces behind the guy as they head across this field. After about 300 yards the crook slows down, so my buddy runs up next to him and says: “Look, I’m training for the marathon next month, so I’m cool to do this all night. Let me know when you’re ready to give it up, OK?”
End of chase, no violence.

11

Yes, and picking a runner as a victim has its own hazards. The mugger that goes after Barry P better be wearing some Asic Gel Nimbus or equivalent …or be really quick on the draw.

12

I have run in some rough places before using this mentality. Wash D. C. downtown at night. 10 yrs ago( Saturday night was scary) St Louis downtown. New orleans down town, French quarter 5 months b fore Katrina. I have never even been looked at funny. It was obvious that they would only make off with some sweaty shorts, and a shirt. All from a guy who was probably in better shape than they were.
Running gives me freedom to see parts of cities I wouldnt normally spend much time in. And actually say hi" nice day" etc. and feel some good interaction. Another reason to like running.

13

Don’t know how familiar you are with the area, but I was on Jenkintown Pike and then onto North Broad. Since then I figured out how to cut down by the Morris Arboretum and through the Wisahickon Valley. This new route puts me near properties that are worth lteraly 100 times more than before ; )

14

Some runners carry a wallet, but not many, and they hide their car keys.

I know that this is were people/runners get “hit”. If you park in a regular location, thieves are know to watch runner place their keys under their car, then just wait until they run off.

I prefer to take my key with me.

Chris

15

Funny thread.
Whatever happened to those cars with the coded doors? Perfect for a runner, no? The father of my girlfriend in high school had one, and I figured it was the wave of the future. Didn’t catch on, or am I just in the wrong market? (broke)

16

I could put a brand new P3C next to a sack of empty cans in front of the fire station I work at, the cans would be gone first
.

17

Don’t know how familiar you are with the area, but I was on Jenkintown Pike and then onto North Broad. Since then I figured out how to cut down by the Morris Arboretum and through the Wisahickon Valley. This new route puts me near properties that are worth lteraly 100 times more than before ; )

I know those roads; they’re not the ones I’d choose to ride on. I’d be more worried about having a car cut me off than anyone hassling me.

i used to do a lot more riding through north philadelphia, when i was living in fairmount.
it was more ‘riding’ than ‘training’ though; a few too many stop signs, but it’s quite eye opening. i just made sure not to wear spandex!
-charles

18

That’s a great story.

19

In San Francisco they have this down at Ocean Beach. The guys sit around the parking lots and watch surfers, joggers, etc stash their keys and cross the street to hit the beach. Cars beening stolen bi-weekly recently. Stashing keys is an urban setting is a bad idea.

20

the garmin is the only thing of street value to a thief unless you start to run in air jordans or other expensive cool b-ball shoes.