My favorite is the guy who helps him get better leverage on those bolt cutters.

Also, as an aside: what would have been the outcome if someone indeed HAD called 911 on this guy? Would WW have had to foot the bill?

Posted by: Dave J. at August 25, 2006 09:53 AM

How many minutes would it take for the police to respone to a bike theft in progress call?

Posted by: Bark Munster at August 25, 2006 11:12 AM

respond, that is.

Posted by: Bark Munster at August 25, 2006 11:13 AM

If it's around "shift change" (3 p.m., 11 p.m., 7 a.m.), there would likely be no response at all.

Posted by: Jack Bog at August 25, 2006 11:29 AM

Incorrect, Jack. A theft in progress, even a bicycle, is a high priority call and would get a quick response. The shift change times are also wrong.

A bike theft not in progress would be taken by phone if possible.

Posted by: Anahit at August 28, 2006 12:07 AM

If a bike theft call comes in within 15 minutes on either side of a shift change, whenever that may be nowadays, nobody's going to be coming for a half hour, at least. Especially since it's a misdemeanor property crime you're calling in. During shift change, there won't be anybody around for even a felony heroin deal on your front porch.

Posted by: Jack Bog at August 28, 2006 02:39 AM

Still incorrect, Jack. It sounds like your false assertion results from not knowing how shift changes work at the PPB.

Without getting into fine details, suffice to say shift changes don't occur with everyone getting off the street at the same time as everyone getting on the street. The quit times and start times overlap so there is no "either side of a shift change".

Infrequently, issues result from shift changes but a theft in progress is a high priority call, whether bicycle or not, and barring extraordinary circumstances it would receive a "Code 3" quick response, as would the "felony heroin deal".

I don't know where you're getting your information but it's wrong. I'm getting my information from personal experience as one of the shift changers.

Posted by: Anahit at August 28, 2006 10:11 AM

I have called the police on many occasions, including to report recurring heroin purchases in progress in front of my house in Buckman, and I've talked at length to the officers who responded (at whatever pace they could). If you think the Portland police are going to rush out for a kid with bolt cutters stealing a bike, you are quite naive.

And shift change has long been a no-man's land, even with more cops on the street than there are now.

Posted by: Jack Bog at August 29, 2006 11:40 AM

[Posted as indicated; restored later.]