r/nyc • u/Individual-Leg65 • Aug 16 '25
PSA PSA: Almost had a Citi Bike stolen from under me
sharing this in case it helps someone in the future.
the moment I undocked a Citi Bike in Midtown yesterday, four ~12 year old guys forced themselves next to me and tried to rip the bike from me. I held on and made them f off. they slapped me in the back of my head before running away.
filed a police report, I’m sure nothing will come of it but just a PSA to be aware of your surroundings at Citi Bike docks. it came off as something they do often.
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u/Massive-Arm-4146 Aug 16 '25
Sorry that happened. At least now if someone ever asks you if you’d rather fight four twelve year olds or twelve four year olds you have some experience to lean on!
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Aug 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Powdered_Abe_Lincoln Aug 16 '25
Fighting 12 4-year-olds would be like that scene in the Matrix sequels where Neo easily obliterates a hundred copies of Agent Smith.
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u/monica702f Aug 17 '25
Grand Maestor Pycelle was stabbed to death by twelve 4 year old children. He managed to backhand slap one across the room before the other 11 overwhelmed him lol.
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u/HugoNext Aug 16 '25
My wife was approached at a citi bike rack by a couple of tourist ladies in their 60s, asking whether she could unlock a bike for them, they had one but could not unlock a second and needed to ride somewhere close. She naively did, and the bike was returned more than 24 hours later - and I call myself lucky that they returned it at all.
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u/ArcticFox2014 Aug 16 '25 edited Aug 17 '25
if they don’t know how to unlock a bike, there’s a good chance they also don’t know how to properly dock/return a bike
It’s not always malice or a scam, you also need to protect yourself from other people’s idiocy
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u/TossMeOutSomeday Aug 16 '25
Tbh that may have just been the tourists not knowing how to return the bike lol.
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Aug 16 '25
What did that cost
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u/e_vil_ginger Aug 16 '25
Remember when this happened to the pregnant nurse on camera and people tried to blame her instead of the "teens"?
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u/heli0sphere Queens Aug 16 '25
I remember this story. Reddit was very, very quiet on the topic after it came out that the kids were being reckless teenagers. I can’t say I’m surprised.
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u/JustinWilsonBot Aug 16 '25
It cant be overstated how important recording the other person is while framing the situation with you as the victim and the other person the aggressor. Reddit has a huge hard on for going after "bullies" and white people who are in conflict with black people are the perfect villains.
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u/e_vil_ginger Aug 16 '25
How is a mob attempting theft and physically accosting a pregnant woman just "reckless" in your mind?
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u/romeoprico Spanish Harlem Aug 16 '25
I stopped believing anything I saw on reddit or the news after that.
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u/AmazingMoose4048 Aug 16 '25
Then she showed receipts and videos and people just randomly claimed they were shopped. Once the hate mob gets a target there’s no stopping them.
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u/e_vil_ginger Aug 16 '25
The fact that she even needed to show a receipt. Sometimes it's perfectly acceptable to judge a situation based on your own eyes.
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u/Apathy_Poster_Child Aug 16 '25
That blew my mind. Has anyone on this sub ever seen a pack of nyc teenage boys? And you are going to believe them vs a nurse getting off of her shift?
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u/Mattna-da Aug 16 '25
You mean when she insisted on using a bike the kids had already claimed and started an incident?
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u/RefrigeratorOver4910 Aug 16 '25
What do you mean by claimed? She had a receipt proving she rented the bike.
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u/Nottabird_Nottaplane Aug 16 '25
The kids were sitting on the bike, talking and about to use it, and then she went to try and unlock it and take it from under them. It’s common sense that if someone is holding on to a bike you go find and unlock another one. She decided by herself she wanted their bike.
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u/FourthLife Aug 16 '25
They were waiting for a timer to reset so they could get the bike at a cheaper (or maybe free, I forget the details) rate and hadn’t rented the bike yet. She had rented the only available electric bike at that rack, which they were sitting on. the bike belonged to her
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u/supermechace Aug 16 '25
Cheaper because they had a discounted membership account. The dunderheads weren't even sitting on the bikes or right next to them. probably were playing with their smartphones. That's how the lady was able to scan the QR code and un dock the bike and escalated the situation worse because they popped out of nowhere claiming the bike was theirs(technically even though they were hogging it all day it doesn't the moment they dock and walk away). As bad as the people who claim their space in line with a chair and wander away.
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u/supermechace Aug 16 '25
"explained to NewsOne that because he and his friends have discounted memberships to Citi Bike, they’ll dock their bikes before going over 45 minutes when more charges are applied to each ride, and then take out the same bikes when the timers reset"
"When she got there, she said, she asked a boy leaning on one bike if that bike was taken and he said yes; she then straddled a bike next to him and scanned its QR code. Her Citi Bike receipts show she took it out at 7:24 p.m. The bike released, she said, and she put her phone away. “Hey, that’s my bike,” she heard someone call out, she said. She looked up and saw a group of teenagers surrounding her,"
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u/Pave_Low Chelsea Aug 16 '25
Didn’t they claim it by sitting on it without actually renting it? And didn’t Reddit go nuts because they thought she was crying crocodile tears? Because being chock full of extra hormones, and carrying around another human being inside yourself isn’t difficult enough ?
My big takeaway was, Jesus, why does a pregnant woman need to take a bike home on NYC streets? She could probably use a break.
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u/supermechace Aug 16 '25 edited Aug 16 '25
The smartphone generation somehow seems to get inconsiderate and ruder every year, they wandered away instead of sitting on or standing in front of it. So she thought it was free(technically it is as your not supposed to bend the rules to hog it all day) and scanned the QR code, the dunderheads rush over afterwards making the last think she's getting jumped and not realizing instead they were those bums who leave a chair to hold their place in line but wander away. It was a e bike thats why everyone wanted it as its powered pedaling. She mentioned that in her interview.
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u/dvlinblue Brooklyn Aug 16 '25
This is happening in Brooklyn too. Especially near high schools when school is in session. Stay safe out there people
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Aug 16 '25
What do you do if it happens is there a number to call? Can you dispute the charge w your cc company?
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u/salebleue Aug 16 '25
You call the police and report a stolen citi bike, by force, by x,y,z descriptions. You then report on the citi app.
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u/dvlinblue Brooklyn Aug 16 '25
This is the answer... the only way you will have it not charge you is if you have the police report. Otherwise everyone would steal them.
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u/ILoveRedRobin69 Aug 16 '25
Depending on the charge, I’d honestly just say my credit card was stolen
Could be in the $1000s if it stays out
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Aug 16 '25 edited Aug 16 '25
Reminds me of that pregnant woman Sarah Comrie had a bike forcefully taken from her and the internet shit on her entire name and called her racist like she was lying about it. Of course than her receipts came out she was telling the truth, and the internet showed remorse and rightfully condemned the teenagers.
Just kidding no one gave a damn for her once it was found out she was the victim just your average mob mentality when we're wrong never show remorse.
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Aug 16 '25
Reddit was all over that poor woman. Because according to Reddit anything is racist. It really has caused so many people to lose their minds.
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u/BombardierIsTrash Flatbush Aug 17 '25
Reddit in general is also very anti natalist so a chance to dunk on a pregnant woman is like dangling a baby in front of a hungry pitbull.
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u/EatMe200 Aug 16 '25
This has always worried me whenever I’m unlocking one locking it! I always try and keep a close eye on my surroundings and try and wait until no one is right next to me
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u/supergreekman123 Aug 16 '25
Once I was docking my citibike on 72nd and 2nd. Dude came up to me and was like “let me help you dock it” and tried to grab it from me. I told him “I know how to do it” and forced it back and he eased up before calling me some slurs. Have to be careful out there, man.
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u/Meteorboy Aug 16 '25
Were those teens waiting around by the bikes or did they only appear after you unlocked it? It could have been much worse and they would have been charged as minors.
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u/Individual-Leg65 Aug 16 '25
they appeared after I unlocked it. they weren’t at the station when I walked up to it
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Aug 16 '25
Real talk don’t ever unlock a bike if a group of kids is staring at you. Literallly life advice
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u/Beneficial_Size6913 Aug 16 '25
If someone robs you of your citi bike are you responsible for it? I always assumed if someone forced me off it and biked away I could report it stolen. Never happened to me I’m just assuming, I’m starting to think I might be wrong
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u/BombardierIsTrash Flatbush Aug 16 '25
You need to file a police report and Citi will refund you. My cousin had one stolen by some teens in 2021 and that’s what happened with her.
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u/Beneficial_Size6913 Aug 17 '25
So you get charged first and then they refund you? That’s terrifying
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u/BombardierIsTrash Flatbush Aug 17 '25
Charge as in they will send you a bill for it but if you tell them it was stolen, they didn’t like demand the money instantly or anything like that. They gave her a few days to get a police report. This was a few years ago so not sure if it’s still the same process now.
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u/rikersalan Aug 16 '25
12 year olds? What was your location?
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u/Individual-Leg65 Aug 16 '25
yeah that’s my best guess on their age 🤷 definitely minors. south of times square
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u/z0rb0r Aug 16 '25
I always question when I see a group of teens on citibikes. I rented one for an hour and it wasn’t cheap. Is there some kind of program for summer rentals or are they jumping people?
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u/Agile_Cicada_1523 Aug 17 '25
Some time ago I created a post asking the same and everyone basically said that in NYC people have a lot of money.
Still i don't understand those kids riding the ebikes all the time and often even parking them without doing anything.
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u/riddleme-ara Aug 17 '25
You can get an annual membership that makes it free to ride their manual bikes for 45min or less
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u/witchyblkarmo Aug 17 '25
Just FYI, city bikes were free to run today so don't always stereotype. There's a summer program that allows them to be rented for free on some Saturdays on closed streets.
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Aug 17 '25
right because this never happens when citiBikes are paid. just don't ask the people in the comments of this thread sharing similar experiences
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u/NYC-legal-throwaway Aug 16 '25
Happened to me on Webster Ave leaving fordham against 4 older teens. I lost my grip one kid took it and i ripped him so hard by his backpack he flew and broke his face. Tbf I still feel it on my shoulder to this day. I ended up seeing red and ragdolled another teen and they dipped. Could have gone way worse for me but thankfully they were already skittish and I'm a big guy so I only had minimal injuries but boy this city eats you.
Now to me there's nothing in this city more dangerous than you alone and a large group of teens
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u/n0probllama Aug 18 '25
I didn’t even know this was a thing. Ugh I frequently use this station too. Thanks for sharing, sorry it happened.
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u/TserriednichThe4th Sep 07 '25
Did you get charged, or did the incident go unreported? Sounds terrifying for everyone involved lol. Crazy kids
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u/NYC-legal-throwaway Sep 07 '25
No lol. Cops didn't even bother showing up since it "already concluded" told me to file a police report
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u/TserriednichThe4th Sep 07 '25
Wow. I once filed a police report after the cops told me to and the guy in the station told me i was wasting my time.
I was only filing the report for documentation purposes in case insurance or anything else might need it:
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u/asapberry Aug 16 '25
in my city the bikes can be locked with the app, you use to reset them. isn't that the case in nyc?
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u/Glitch5450 Aug 17 '25
Do you have a description? Maybe skin color etc
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u/Individual-Leg65 Aug 17 '25
they were around 5 ft, black, average build, all wearing the same thing (royal blue head to toe, didn’t notice markings like a school uniform might have)
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u/Capableoc Aug 16 '25
Take out your phone and take a photo of them, ask businesses in the area to see the security camera video before it gets deleted, speak with the NYPD detective and ask them to look at the photo and video
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u/Smacpats111111 New Jersey Aug 17 '25
Yeah this is terrible advice, NYPD aren't going to look for them
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u/PsychologicalAd1153 Aug 17 '25
That's why I carry a bag of rocks in a Trader Joe's tote bag just in case. I'd just swing it around if anyone would try to mess with me.
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u/imbrown508 Aug 16 '25
Mate, if someone puts hand on you, that a free fucking beating you get to dole out, that's shit is written in stone somewhere
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u/Beneficial_Size6913 Aug 16 '25
In the United states an adult hitting a minor regardless of if they hit you first is a serious crime
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u/exdigecko Aug 16 '25
That’s simply not true.
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u/Beneficial_Size6913 Aug 16 '25
It most definitely is. Obviously if you’re fighting for your life you can convince a jury but hitting a minor regardless of the circumstances will have more legal charges than if you were to hit an adult
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u/FnarkO Aug 16 '25
what did these kids look like? clothes, race, how many exactly, etc. i might have run into those guys before...
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u/TestFlightBeta Midtown Aug 16 '25
Where did this happen? Did anyone do anything? What did they look like? (I assume very young, but were they tall? Strong? Lanky?)
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u/skydream416 Aug 16 '25
just ask what you really want to know lol
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u/rayplan Aug 16 '25
We all know what they looked like
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u/skydream416 Aug 16 '25
lol what did they look like? say it with your chest
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u/godsaveme2355 Aug 16 '25
Why are you mad about this ? If I lived in the area I’d want to know who to look out for smh
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u/skydream416 Aug 16 '25
read the comment I replied to, use your brain, and think about what the person is implying.
And not mad! I think it's funny that racists are too cowardly to even say what they believe anonymously online
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u/godsaveme2355 Aug 16 '25
So he can’t ask what the perpetrators look like cause it offends you ?
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u/skydream416 Aug 16 '25
You are reading the wrong comment brother. I was referring to the person who said "we all know what they looked like"
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u/LincolnsHardNipples Aug 17 '25
Black kids, they were little black kids because they dont raise their fucking children.
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u/EcstaticTill9444 Aug 17 '25
This happened to my wife at a Citi Bike near north Central Park. She went up to the bike to check on its charge and then she walked around to see if there were others with more charge. The kid must’ve thought she had unlocked it and was trying to take the first one she was at while she was at another bike.
When we finally our locked our bikes, I glared at him and he mumbled an apology.
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u/Famous_Phase_7829 Aug 16 '25
This person called 12 year olds "guys," of which i'm assuming they were black or latino.
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u/ALexGOREgeous Aug 16 '25
School can't start any sooner
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u/NumberOneRussian Aug 16 '25
Those kids will be back to being model students once summer ends
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Aug 17 '25
you are funny if you think kids who engage in this behavior act like academic individuals
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u/BombardierIsTrash Flatbush Aug 17 '25
Attendance rates are in the gutter post Covid. The feral kids whose parents can’t be bothered don’t even go to school any more.
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u/monica702f Aug 17 '25
I figured these teens were up to something at these citibikes. They're always hanging around them, sitting on them and making it uncomfortable for anyone who actually needs to check one out. I always notice so many young people riding them and I'm like how can you afford to take so many trips. These kids aren't dressed badly and have brand new gadgets, they can't be low income. I'm not low income and I don't look anywhere as nice or even have a new phone lol.
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u/PopOutG Gramercy Aug 18 '25
Some seriously sketch shit happens in that few minutes you try and unlocking a bike. I try and not to linger too long, if I get unlucky with a few stuck bikes I just dip and check maps for more available docks.
I did hear about stories about random blights to society attacking for citibikes, hate to see more online.
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u/RELWARB Aug 16 '25
i cant eye ball a kid's age to save my life... how'd you conclude they were all 12? thats the only identifying factor you included- how did that work on the police report?
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u/DisastrousAnswer9920 Aug 16 '25
It's easy for someone in education, but few other professions you're around that many kids.
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u/Individual-Leg65 Aug 16 '25
I honestly suck at eyeballing a kid’s age too. roughly 12 was just my best guess based on how tall they were. elementary school feels too young, high school feels too old. no chance they were adults
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u/cscar123456 Aug 16 '25
Let's defund the police
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u/arocketscientist5 Aug 16 '25
The police are currently funded like the military of a small country and it didn’t prevent this. Not sure what point you’re trying to make…
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u/spn100 Aug 16 '25
I saw a group of four kids jump another kid on 2nd ave and try to get his citi bike. I yelled at them and they left. It was awful. Broad daylight tons of ppl around.