Crazy. Check out the full video (plus full reader report) to see just how brazen this was:
“Dear PoPville,
At 6 pm on Monday night, what looked like a young male in a black hoodie and backpack took an angle grinder to my kryptonite u lock for 5+ minutes trying to steal my personal scooter. I had left it for less than 20 minutes locked up on a bike rack in front of current boutique to go to an appointment on 14th st, and the video footage from their ring camera very clearly shows someone grinding away shooting 3 foot sparks for over five minutes, while someone else was keeping a look out for police? national guard? who knows.
Dozens and dozens of people walked by, looked over their shoulders, and said nor did nothing, which, I totally get, the world is a crazy place and no one should risk their personal safety over a scooter, but it very clearly was not a normal lost-my-keys situation. The video continues with the thief eventually cutting themselves with the grinder (my lock has blood on it) kicking the scooter over, then JUMPING on the lock trying to break it after they gave up on the angle grinder. Eventually their lookout said something and the thief walked away, leaving my scooter on its side with one final kick, seemingly out of spite?
I tried to file a police report, but after calling 311 and giving the information, they told me MPD would call me back, but they call from some other call center number, and the way verizon/ATT service blocks spam calls these days, it wont let the call ring through, even when saved as a contact. Calling back just sends you to the call center, who told me my only option is to go in person to the precinct to file a report.
All said, mostly just sharing out of spite and a general fist shake at the universe and how f*ed up it is, that people think this is a resonable premeditated thing to do, that bystanders are too scared for their own safety (rightfully so!) that the police are so useless, that even our occupation national guard doesnt keep even your most basic personal property, that is secured with “NYC gold standard” (kryptonite’s marketing materials) lock to DDOT infrastructure.
I guess, keep an eye out if you lock your bike/scooter up on 14th street? this was clearly a plan, given the tools he had in his backpack and the lookout. I have no idea what else one could do here.”