Stolen Segways

[sholloway]

Be cautious if you are buying from a non-dealer. My store was "burgled" on Friday night and they took 7 Segways. 3 used i167's with keys, 2 new i167's w/o keys, and 2 new p's w/o keys. They actually cut a hole in the metal roof of the building and came in through the bathroom roof (which happens to be where the security system is and the only room not covered by a motion detector. I had only let very few people use that bathroom, none of which I would think were capable of this. They disarmed the alarm and then took all of the Segways out the back door and loaded them in a truck in the parking lot. From what I understand, Segway LLC, WILL NOT make keys for these machines. I would assume they will sell them to some sucker and just not mention that they don't have keys and then disappear. They also took 2 electric bikes and the most useless laptop on the planet. They left a printer, TV/DVD combo, parts, accessories, and the bottom half of another new Segway. For those interested, Yes, I do have insurance and I assume most everything will be covered. Just wanted to get the heads up out there to anyone looking to buy used or out of a dealership. Before you do, get the serial number, call Segway LLC, and check it out. They should have my serial numbers tomorrow. Thanx.

[Florida Ever-Glides]

I NEVER keep keys at the premises at night & I post a note in the front window stating that the HT's require encrypted keys that are NOT left at the premises and that the machines will not turn on without the keys.

I use this as a deterrant so long as the thief is literate...

Sorry about the loss Scott.

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[FusionMag]

Scott!! I cant believe it! Man, I hope all works out for you and the jerks get caught. I know that area and I didnt imagine it happening there. I will spread the word to my friends in that area and give them a heads up that the machines are stolen if they see them or approached about them.

AJ Grassia

[Segway City]

We'll keep an eye out up I-24 way.

While they may have cased the bathroom prior to the burglary, it is common practice to not specifically protect bathrooms when installing alarm systems. So professionals (obviously these guys had done this before) often zero in on the bathroom for an exterior entry. They probably cased the place beforehand, but actually having to be in the bathroom was not a requirement, only knowledge of its location.

I installed alarms in NYC for a while in the '70s: ceiling vibration sensors are cheap! It saved many a business owner in my short time there. Not to mention the cheap $2 trip wire that saved the deli guy on Tremont when a guy with a chain and a Cadillac yanked the entire front off the place. The alarm didn't sound. The owner had perimeter protection only, no space protection, because the rats (big ones) set the PIRs off all the time. But he tripped the alarm with the wire when he went for the register, and the cops got him. Got 12-20 for that one, repeat offender.

We'll keep a good thought for you!

[Dwarf84396]

Scott,

Sorry about the loss. Hopefully these guys will get caught, and they will get punished to the fullest extent of the law!

Ben

My entire internet experience condensed into one little image:
http://ben.runslinux.net/img/smileys_lurking.gif

[fredkap]

Frank Tropea and his brother recorded the sting of a fellow needing keys for a Segway. They pretended that they could make a key for a Seg, met at a Starbucks and had a police detective join them. That video should be here somewhere.

Fred

[Segway City]

Hopefully Frank will record the IP of these dopes if they come looking for key hacking answers so we can pay 'em a visit.

[segwayowner]

quote:Originally posted by Florida Ever-Glides

I NEVER keep keys at the premises at night & I post a note in the front window stating that the HT's require encrypted keys that are NOT left at the premises and that the machines will not turn on without the keys.

I use this as a deterrant so long as the thief is literate...

Sorry about the loss Scott.

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com


Where DO you keep your keys? Do you take them home?

DES: Segway owner....
it has a nice ring to it
Dont take a ride, take a G L I D E. . .

[GyroGo]

quote:
Where DO you keep your keys? Do you take them home?


Do you really think it would be smart for him to answer that?

[Dragan]

Scott,
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. It's easy to play armchair quarterback, but a lot tougher to anticipate all of the devious means the criminal element will employ to get into our businesses and homes, and take things that don't belong to them. I hope you recover the machines, and soon.

Tom, I agree with you. The first thing that we do when a new machine arrives is to unbox it, put it on charge and tag the keys. They go to a separate location (no, I won't say where either) and don't meet up with the machine again until delivery day. With the price of Segways being what it is, I don't think you can afford to take any chances.
Wayne
www.mysegway.ca

[sholloway]

Most of the keys are kept in a different place but we were working the Boat Show so we got lazy and left some keys on the machines that we had used for demos. The old "we'll be back in the morning" thinking. We were back, just the machines weren't there anymore! Hopefully we'll see if they can figure out how to make any money. I'm guessing someone is going to get a great price and no keys.

Yeah AJ, I was a little surprised about the neighborhood too! I guess it just goes to show they can strike in any neighborhood. The police absolutely SUCKED! She was there about 5 minutes and told ME to give HER a call if I here anything!!! I told her if someone turns themselves in to me I'd be sure to call her. What a waste of tax dollars.

[SegLegs]

Hi Scott!

Sorry to hear about your loss - please call me if I can do anything to help you!

MaryBeth

[kaufmanb]

Scott,
that is terrible. Hope everything goes well and I hope they catch the folks that did it. let me know if I can help in anyway.

Brian
Segway of Cleveland

Brian Kaufman-Butler
Segway of Cleveland
216-241-6100
www.GoSegway.Net

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Also I recommend running a large 'coated' cable lock through all of the machines at night. I try to make it as hard as possible to get my machines. Plus, the police station is only two blocks from my office..

Oh, and when I remove the keys at night I hide them under the welcome mat at the front door. Please don't tell anyone...

Tom Jacobson
http://www.floridaever-glides.com

[panderso]

Scott,

Very sorry for your loss. There are bad people in this world that do bad things. I hope your insurance picks up everything.
Just a thought...did you have any special markings, after market designs or anything that will set them apart from other segways?

Paul

[sholloway]

two of them had vinyl on them but it would only take a second to pull it off and have it back to "stock". One does have a broken kickstand!

[Dwarf84396]

Scott,

After being to your store before, were the machines that were stolen the ones you had lying around the store on display/demo use? If they are, then I think I remember what they look like from the last time I was there, and I will make sure to keep an eye out for them.

Once we find these people, they will have the entire community on their butts!

Good Luck.

Ben

My entire internet experience condensed into one little image:
http://ben.runslinux.net/img/smileys_lurking.gif

[sholloway]

Yeah Tom, I had the ones in the back cabled together. The one in the window didn't have it's cable buddy there so there was nothing to cable it to. I guess I could have cabled it to the desk or something.

They were all classic titanium!! One had yellow vinyl and one had gold. I doubt they're going to leave the unique decorations on them. Then again, they're not the smartest people.