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I went to Marseille once, and that town is over-run with Algerians who absolutely hate Americans, I was treated like shit the entire time I was there and couldn't wait to get out.
1) I learned some new information about the area: The police will not go to that area because they have orders from the Mayor to not go there. The Mayor has them stay out of the area to prevent the area from turning into a riot area. As long as it is just theft that is taking place then the police can turn their heads and act like they don’t see it. The Mayor gets a lot of votes from that part of town and he doesn’t want them to not vote for him. Also, he doesn’t live anywhere near that area and therefore doesn’t have to worry about seeing what is going on.
The director of my company is going to write a letter to the Mayor to explain the situation. There are expats from all over the world that come here to work but if it is going to be dangerous or the police are not going to do anything to help when there is a problem then they will quit bringing people in. This may not sound significant but I work for a large global company that provides a lot of benefits to the area and the city!
2) Some people from my work are meeting with our companies lawyer today to see if there is anything that can be done. It is one thing when they stay in their part of town but when they come to the main area, have no helmets on, ride wheelies up and down the road and thru the park, and also right past the police and the police do nothing. I think that is a problem. I was pulled over the day after it got stolen for a road side check and I was livid to say the least.
3) I had a detective call me last night. I have a meeting with him Thursday morning to show him the pictures I took. He wants to compare them with his "Wall of Fame" to see if he can identify the kids on the bike. This is at least a step in the right direction!
4) My local contact text me last night and said that things are progressing well. He thinks he might have it back by tonight or tomorrow. I really hope that is true!! He is not a "Hit Man" as was posted. He is simply a person that grew up here, works at a local business so he knows almost everybody, and doesn't like this type of activity. The bars here are tied in pretty well with the undercover police and I think that is who he has been working with.
5) I have contacted the U.S. Embassy and they were not much help. They told me a couple things to do and I am following up on those but I don't think that it will be the solution. However, I am willing to try all things at this point.
I agree that this is not worth a persons life and I never stated that I wanted anything to happen to anybody involved. Would I like to thump the punks a little bit, absolutely, however, I am one person here and well out numbered. I do not plan to do anything stupid or illegal, I am just trying to get property that is mine returned. I also took pictures of 4 or 5 other bikes so maybe meeting with this detective will help to get someone else's property back that is missing as well.
If in the end I don't get my bike back I will at least be able to sleep at night knowing that I exhausted all my resources in trying to recover it. I am a very persistent and stubborn person and I won't quit until I get it back or know for sure that is has disappeared for good.
Thanks to everyone for the posts! It is good to know that at least the motorcycle community from all over the world feels as ill about the situation as I do!
Bill
As I say, I've had a bike and all my gear stolen in the past. I know exactly how you feel and its horrible, so I really hope you're able to resolve the situation somehow. Though to be honest, after a few weeks of being ragged around the streets I can't imagine the bike will be worth salvaging in the end. But I guess sometimes its just the principle.
Do you have insurance?
I moved here a year and a half ago with nothing but a few pieces of furniture and my girlfriend. We are doing it all on my salary as she cannot work due to the Visa laws and these basturds took my sole possession what I have worked so hard for!
Unfortunately no, I did not have insurance. I always did in the U.S. but somehow it slipped my mind here. I know that is my fault and the biggest one I made but I cannot fix that at this time. I have definitely learned from the situation and will carry this knowledge forward with me.
France has been a great experience for the both of us, I don't want anyone to think that this is an American hating on France because it is not that at all. The two of us have been able to see and do some amazing things over the past year and a half that I never dreamed I would do and we got engaged two weeks ago in Germany! The people here have been some of the nicest that I have ever met.
I was targetted by a group of people, that I don't consider "French People" and they wanted one thing and one thing only. They got what they wanted but like I said before, I am not going down easy. I literally can't sleep at night and haven't been able to for the past 6 weeks. Any slight noise gets my attention and I am waiting for the day that they slip up.
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So sorry to hear that... But i can't say i'm surprised. Police in France is so f...ed up. They're only there to give road tickets and won't do shit for you if anything is stolen. We indeed have areas where they won't go. Politicians indeed created ghettos in the 60's that's gotten out of hands lately, and those guys happen to like dirt bikes to hit the street. Your best hope is by far the local guy you know who grew up there. That's how i got my stolen bike back back in the days. I hope you won't hold a grudge against France because of that, even if you have reasons to.
As for the "get a gun and go pick it yourself", you guys don't know what you're talking about... Poor Bill would just have to pack quickly and go back to Illinois before getting beaten up to death. Those guys aren't joking around.
France is not America. If you take matters into your own hands, prepare to sit in a jail for the next 2 decades w/ those very same criminals.
You can't own nice stuff in France, especially if you are not a local in the known w/ a very secure setting.
Ironically, my cousin is a cop in Marselle, France.
The kid is 17 and the police already know him that well. I would say that he is not going to amount to much in life at this rate!
I also showed the detective another picture I had of two other guys on a bike and he had them on the screen within a minute or two. They are all from the same neighborhood and apparently they are all criminals.
Three times this week I have driven thru the area where I last saw my bike on Saturday but I have not seen it since. On the radio this morning the dj was talking about the police raiding that area last night to recover stolen property. Not sure what that means exactly, maybe they are getting enough heat from this incident and others that they are going to attempt to do something.
After I left the police station this morning, I took the long way to work to have a look around. I didn't see my bike or any police but what I did see was a bunch of patches in the grass and the road where they burned some cars and other things the past night or two. I just hope one wasn't my bike!
Keep us updated. One of the most interesting post in a while. To bad it's based on your misery though...
I lost a bike some years ago, and newer got it back. Had insurance but lost more than half of the value because of the fine prints. I gave up right away since I newer saw it again...
I spoke with my "guy" last night and two nights ago his "team" recovered 8 stolen bikes. One of them was a motocross bike but it was a Suzuki and not a Honda. He told me he thinks they are getting closer and now that he has the kids name who stole it, he said that will help.
I am looking forward to the weekend and on Saturday I plan to do a little surveilance to see if I can see it again to know whether or not it is still around. Even though I don't have it and it pisses me off when I do see it, I like to know that it is still running and not destroyed/burned up somewhere!
Thanks again for everyone's interest as this has been a way for me to get everything off my chest. I've had a lot of built up frustration throughout this but I am more relaxed the past few days.
I hope to eventually post a positive closure to this story as I never thought it would have the following it has had. For that, Thanks again to everyone for following along and showing your support!!
I am sure the bike is totally roached by now but until I know for sure that it is gone then I am going to keep on trying to get it. I really wish the weather here would break, the sun come out, and the temperature get to plus 15 degrees C. The punks always seem to be out riding around during those conditions.
If anybody wants to stop by and do a little bike hunting, let me know, I will accommodate you for the weekend and provide food and drinks, especially for the celebration after recovering it!! Any other tips or tricks that you might have, I am open for them too.
Thanks again for the help,
Bill
Pit Row
I'd be prepared to split. Good luck though (I mean that sincerely)
Pretty much all of Europe is a total fucking write off as a direct result of this liberal, "all cultures are equal" bullshit policy and far too generous welfare and social programs. As a result France etc. have huge ghettos of unassimilated immigrants rioting, stealing, gang-raping etc - and the police can't or wont do anything. It's sad, and given birthrates the way they are over there (and everywhere but the US Red States, really), we are ALL going to be dealing with this pretty quick.
I hope you get your bike back dude - I wish you luck. France - I hope you get your country back - but you wont.
All the best in getting your bike back or at least some sort of resolution soon.
good luck, op...
But apart Canada and Immigrants world wide, everythings peachy, right?
jk jk, but seriously
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