Boys trip up man riding bicycle, then try to steal it
Two boys attempted to steal a bicycle from an Ann Arbor man Sunday night by sticking something into the spokes as he was riding by, police said.
The man was riding on the sidewalk at 7 p.m. on East Stadium Boulevard near Brockman Boulevard and passed the boys. The 47-year-old man fell off the bike when one of the boys put something in the spokes of one of the wheels but wasn't injured, police spokeswoman Lt. Renee Bush said.
The boys attempted to take the bike, but the man grabbed onto it, Bush said. A woman who was driving by slowed down and honked, prompting the boys to run away. The man rode the bicycle to a nearby store and called police.
The boys were described as between 10 and 13 years old. One was black, 5 feet to 5 feet, 3 inches tall and had a medium build. He was wearing a dark-blue hooded sweatshirt and white T-shirt.
The other was Hispanic, between 5 feet, 4 inches and 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with a thin mustache.
Anyone with information can call the police department's tip line at (734) 794-6939.
Comments
OLDTIMER3
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 : 11:35 p.m.
@ Joe Kidd , is it not armed if they had a stick or such in their hands. And it is still an attempt to do bodily harm is it not Sticking something in a moving bikes spokes.
Joe Kidd
Sun, Nov 20, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
Maybe, but it does not appear from the article that the stick was being brandished as a weapon. If so, then this could be charged as armed robbery. The story doesn't even report what it was, just "something."
a2cents
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 : 12:09 p.m.
another good reason to ride in the street
Tom Todd
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 11:41 p.m.
Sorry couldn't resist, got to blame Snyder!
Dawn
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 9:18 p.m.
Perhaps if they had the "Hand of knowledge was applied to the seat of learning" when they were smaller then this stuff wouldn't happen. But wait...that's "child abuse". Really? We want people to keep their kids in line but anytime a parent "disciplines" them in a way we don't like someone has to butt in and call child safety services. Children need to be educated in how to live in society. When our children are allowed to run rampant because we won't or can't do what is necessary then the entire society suffers. (There is a huge difference between "discipline" and "abuse".)
sun runner
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 8:27 p.m.
Ladies & gentlemen, behold the future of America! Rotten little brats.
omniskeptic
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:12 p.m.
Yeah, that's assault -- maybe with intent to cause grievous bodily harm -- and attempted larceny. Depending on how expensive a bike it was, the little ... gentlemen ... could easily be added to our growing population of juvenile offenders.
Joe Kidd
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 7:19 p.m.
That incident is an unarmed robbery attempt.
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:07 p.m.
I love my tazer!!! :)
f4phantomII
Tue, Nov 15, 2011 : 6:41 p.m.
Tell the cops they were hit by lightning. It was the darnedest thing.
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
I know, if it ever comes to using it, I'll hire a good lawyer.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:39 p.m.
The taser bill to my knowledge is not law yet. i don't agree with it, but you just admitted to owning something prohibited in MI currently. Use it at your peril (legally).
treetowncartel
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:02 p.m.
They must have just got done watching "Breaking Away".
nonyo
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 6:07 p.m.
I can't believe they deleted my Italian comment. Has no one seen the movie?
Dave
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 4:29 p.m.
FYI to the parents of these two kids....if I were that guy, I wouldn't have been so nice to your kids. Handcuffs in a bed at St Joe's is where they would have been found. Makes me want to go ride my bike around there.
Ricebrnr
Wed, Nov 16, 2011 : 1:42 a.m.
I was going to leave this alone but it would be a disservice to all the peopl that voted for your posts not to speak out. Give me a break, you're being deliberately disingenuous if you believe these things I pointed out (constructively) will not be considered should you find yourself in a similar situation. The victim in this case was able to guess the ages of his attackers. There is a big difference between defending against multiple larger assailants and a couple of 10 to 13 year olds. The article further states they tripped the guy and then tried to steal the bike, but there is no mention of any additional physical altercation. Where is the disparity of force? Where is the threat to life an limb after the initial "tripping"? If you put them in the hospital after a similar encounter, don't think for a second the headline for your story won't be: "Man puts children in hospital over prank."
Dave
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 7:20 p.m.
The thing is, regardless of age, if you make the decision to attack someone you're fair game. The last thing you can think about while someone throws you off your bike is "Oh yeah they are just kids, it's ok" If someone is after you, you don't have time to guess their age. Save that for the carnival. Gimme a break!
Ricebrnr
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
While I understand the sentiment, would you be viewed the hero or the villain for beating up a couple of juveniles? That and if you do ride around there now, would any encounter you may have from now on make you the victim or the vigilante? Self defense includes BEFORE any encounter. Good luck.
Berda Green
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
these kids are going crazy whats wrong with them today omg
bunnyabbot
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 10:13 p.m.
lack of morals, apathy and generalized sociopathic and dissociative disorders.
Buster W.
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 4:19 p.m.
We'll only see more and more of this as both parents are forced to work, more and more families left with one parent (who has to work), which leads to lack of discipline, etc., etc. The decline of the family is in full swing!
Wolf's Bane
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 5:08 p.m.
Hardly, blaming DINKS is really dumb. Blame the parents for being absent.
RJA
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
I'm so glad to hear the man wasn't injured and was able to keep his bike. It is dark at 7 p.m. where were the parents of the 10 and 13 yr old kids? To bad the TV news stations stopped asking (do you know where your children are?) It was usually on the 11 p.m. news) Need it to be on the 6 p.m. news now.
eyeonthenews
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 4:04 p.m.
For many of these kids, one could also ask... where are their parents(?). Too many children are being left home alone to run the streets and get into trouble. Too many without parental supervision.
grye
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 3:53 p.m.
Must be strong believers in wealth re-distribution.
Sunkmybttlshp
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
10-13 years old with a thin mustache?!? I still don't think i can grow a mustache.
KJMClark
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
Wow! Tried to take the bike out from under him? What, pedestrians unhappy that he was biking on the sidewalk? Glad to hear the man is OK.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 3:27 p.m.
It's ugly out there folks. Stay alert, stay aware and at least carry some OC Spray and be prepared to use it. After all in this case would you rather get physical with a 10 and 13 year old? I'd prefer not to go "hands on" at all.
Sallyxyz
Mon, Nov 14, 2011 : 4:09 p.m.
I agree!