Local shop hires former moto thief

Slide Panda · November 22, 2011, 10:58:22 AM

Ok, I know this is potentially a big can-of-worms topics. But I'm putting it up here as it's locally relevant and CAM seems to be able to handle it's shit better than the more trafficked section.

To make sure my due diligence is done, and I don't seem like I'm making up stuff - I will cite:
http://www.dcsportbikes.net/forum/f19/rnr-cycles-so-we-hired-felon%85-71830/
- The topic starter is one of the owners of RnR. For those who can't bother to read it, they are letting the world at large know that they have hired a fellow who has been convicted for stealing motorcycles.

I'm of mixed feelings on this. Yes people can change. Good on them fro giving someone a 2nd chance. But hiring someone to a business that has specialty tools/access/info that would make committing a crime they have been convicted of easier doesn't seem so bright.

So there it is. Discuss... but please keep it civil.

ducatiz · November 22, 2011, 11:13:52 AM

I am all for giving people a second chance after they have served their sentences.

If they have done something violent, I might have a different thought.

But with this much scrutiny, and as miserable as prison is, and as shitty of a job market as we have, one has to imagine he is grateful to have a job.

zooom · November 22, 2011, 12:21:07 PM

sounds like it is a "buyer beware" kind of situation...but I am glad the shop is being pro-active in trying to harness the backlash upfront...which means for at least the intial 1st full season in bloom they will be hopefully watching him like a hawk and looking for reports on ANYTHING funky or out of the blue from their client base....

battlecry · November 22, 2011, 12:35:12 PM

I tried to help people twice, and twice they ended up stealing from my business. Small sample size, I know, but sadly a 100% failure rate.

If I really needed to get my bike serviced there, it would think about towing it in without tag, giving them my porn name, fake telephone number, and paying cash.

ducatiz · November 22, 2011, 01:08:32 PM

it doesn't take an ex-con to do ill

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45359089

there will always be people looking to scam/steal.

and even though some of them are recidivists, there has to be some way for them to re-integrate into society.

as sucky as it is, he "only" stole bikes. he wasn't a murderer, rapist or child molester. and maybe he did it for bad reasons -- greed -- but being locked up is not a cakewalk.

696DCRider · November 22, 2011, 01:15:56 PM

I'm all for second chances too, but c'mon man. Don't you think he's lost his right to work on motorcycles or do anything motorcycle related? If he wants to do some other kind of job that's fine, but he shouldn't be allowed near a motorcycle unless he is riding his own bike.

I think it's careless for RnR to hire him. And it's kind of a slap in the face to the rest of the motorcycle community. This guy didn't steal one bike. He stole a bunch of bikes and befriended various people in the motorcycle community in order to do so. Considering how supportive the motorcycle community tends to be of one another, I think he shouldn't have a right to be considered a part of that anymore. And there's my two cents folks.

Quote from: ducatiz on November 22, 2011, 11:13:52 AM
I am all for giving people a second chance after they have served their sentences.

If they have done something violent, I might have a different thought.

But with this much scrutiny, and as miserable as prison is, and as shitty of a job market as we have, one has to imagine he is grateful to have a job.

ducatiz · November 22, 2011, 01:32:52 PM

pedophiles and sociopaths are genetically hardwired to commit their crimes.

bike thieves are just bike lovers who forgot what is right and wrong, or who let their greed take over.

I'm no panty-waist when it comes to law and order, but if we punish people and then don't let them re-integrate into society, what's the point? we should just shoot everyone for minor crime if we aren't going to let them re-integrate into society.

put it this way: the guy knows a lot about motorcycles. do we expect him to go back and relearn something else now? does anyone really think he has the money and time to do that?

again, it's a motorcycle. it's not a child's life or something like that. he served his time. now that he's working, they have to keep a watch on him to prove himself -- and he has to prove he's worth the trust .

otherwise, all this nonsense about being tough on crime is garbage, because we will be punishing someone for life over theft.

Real Recognize Real · November 22, 2011, 01:36:11 PM

I'm not sure if I have completely processed this story but here are my initial thoughts:

1) The universe doesn't owe this guy a second chance, but if one is in position to receive it, please don't waste it. The owners have risked their reputation and business for this human being.

2) How does hiring a former bike thief help RnR? Couldn't they find a capable mechanic without the baggage?

3) The displayed transparency should be applauded - it couldn't have been an easy decision but it was the ethical choice.

4) There's no way I would take my bike their if I was a victim.

5) I hope there's a relatively happy ending to this story - there's too much pain in the world already!

The Mad King Pepe' · November 22, 2011, 01:37:33 PM

Mixed feelings here as well.

On one side I wish the guy well, and plaud RnR for hiring him. I really believe/hope in rehabilitation!

On the other hand, I can't help wonder if he'll fall back in his old ways, and I understand how people whose trust has been betrayed probably feel about him... $:-\$

ducatiz · November 22, 2011, 01:37:40 PM

Quote from: gwjcat on November 22, 2011, 01:36:11 PM
2) How does hiring a former bike thief help RnR? Couldn't they find a capable mechanic without the baggage?

can't comment on the rest, but in my experience only 1 out of 2 bike mechanics is worth a shit.

maybe he really has a talent with the bikes...

696DCRider · November 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM

Maybe he does have a talent, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to work on bikes. Maybe he should figure out how to harness those talents in another industry.

You mentioned pedophiles earlier. What there is a teacher that is a pedophile? Maybe that person was the greatest teacher to ever live. Do you think they should be able to teach after coming out of jail.......? Someone in that DCSB thread mentioned Michael Vick. He was given a second chance to play football which is good for him. I'm sure he knows a lot about animals, but that doesn't mean he should be able to be a veterinarian.

I'm all for rehabilitation of criminals. I just don't think they should be able to work in a field that they so took advantage of in the past. I'm no Mother Teresa so I'm not go to sit here and judge anyone who has done something wrong in the past, but the guy didn't steal one bike. Apparently he stole 50. You really think he deserves a second chance in the MOTORCYCLE industry?

Quote from: ducatiz on November 22, 2011, 01:37:40 PM
can't comment on the rest, but in my experience only 1 out of 2 bike mechanics is worth a shit.

maybe he really has a talent with the bikes...

zooom · November 22, 2011, 01:51:50 PM

Quote from: 696DCRider on November 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM
Maybe he does have a talent, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to work on bikes. Maybe he should figure out how to harness those talents in another industry.

OKAY...so play god for a minute and you tell us what he should do now for a living then?...and where, while you are at it....go ahead and play the devil's advocate and run out an idea on the yardarm as it were...

696DCRider · November 22, 2011, 01:59:32 PM

I have no idea. Even people that haven't been to prison have problems figuring things like that out. That's up to him. I have a friend who has been in prison for the past 6 years. I don't know what he will do when he is released either. That's why some people pick up trades while in prison. More power to the guy if he actually got a shop to hire him. That's up to him and the shop. There's really nothing I can do about it other than not do business at RnR.

Quote from: zooom on November 22, 2011, 01:51:50 PM
OKAY...so play god for a minute and you tell us what he should do now for a living then?...and where, while you are at it....go ahead and play the devil's advocate and run out an idea on the yardarm as it were...

ducatiz · November 22, 2011, 02:00:50 PM

there is a world of difference in pedophiles and bike thieves.

most people who have both kids and bikes can tell you this.

a bike is a fungible, inanimate object. it can be replaced.. yes, yes, you put all that work into your bike and it sucks to have it stolen, but .. it's still just a piece of metal and plastic.

50 motorcycles? Is that all? he must have been doing this on the side.

The NYPD broke up a ring in NYC about 10 years ago. 3 guys. They had stolen about 2000 bikes over 3 years in the tri-state area. When they busted them, they found over 30 bikes in a warehouse being parted down.

Quote from: 696DCRider on November 22, 2011, 01:47:18 PM
Maybe he does have a talent, but that doesn't mean he should be allowed to work on bikes. Maybe he should figure out how to harness those talents in another industry.

You mentioned pedophiles earlier. What there is a teacher that is a pedophile? Maybe that person was the greatest teacher to ever live. Do you think they should be able to teach after coming out of jail.......? Someone in that DCSB thread mentioned Michael Vick. He was given a second chance to play football which is good for him. I'm sure he knows a lot about animals, but that doesn't mean he should be able to be a veterinarian.

I'm all for rehabilitation of criminals. I just don't think they should be able to work in a field that they so took advantage of in the past. I'm no Mother Teresa so I'm not go to sit here and judge anyone who has done something wrong in the past, but the guy didn't steal one bike. Apparently he stole 50. You really think he deserves a second chance in the MOTORCYCLE industry?

696DCRider · November 22, 2011, 02:09:31 PM

I understand there is a world of difference between those two. I wasn't implying that they are the same. All I'm saying is that people absolutely should lose their right to do certain things when they abuse it.

Quote from: ducatiz on November 22, 2011, 02:00:50 PM
there is a world of difference in pedophiles and bike thieves.

most people who have both kids and bikes can tell you this.

a bike is a fungible, inanimate object. it can be replaced.. yes, yes, you put all that work into your bike and it sucks to have it stolen, but .. it's still just a piece of metal and plastic.

50 motorcycles? Is that all? he must have been doing this on the side.

The NYPD broke up a ring in NYC about 10 years ago. 3 guys. They had stolen about 2000 bikes over 3 years in the tri-state area. When they busted them, they found over 30 bikes in a warehouse being parted down.

News:

Local shop hires former moto thief