Reward: $$Your Dignity

As I try to come to terms with recent losses due to a security breach at my home I find myself diligently scouring Craigslist, hopping back and forth between the Bike Classifieds and Lost and Found. In doing so it makes sense to check out the posts that others have left in regards to their losses, I figure that as I am out about my daily activities it takes little extra effort to keep my eyes peeled for other's possessions that have been lost or snatched out from under them.

Unfortunately, I have found that most of these posts rub me the wrong way- people offering rewards and asking for a return with "No questions asked." This begs me to ask a question, What the hell have we become? You are begging a thief to return what is rightfully yours and you are willing to pay them for it? This is desperation at it's worst. Or is it greed? One thing's for certain, while I will do everything in my power in an attempt to recover my wife's pink cruiser and my burley trailer, the last thing I'm willing to do is advertise to pay someone money to be a decent citizen and do their civic duty. As far as the no questions asked portion goes; you can bet your ass that if you show up at my house with my bike or trailer, amidst all the jubilation I will most definitely ask you where you found them. And don't assume for one minute that if I see some tweaker cruising the ave on my wife's bike, I'm going to politely walk up to him and say, "Excuse me, Sir? I'm sorry to be a bother but I do believe that bike belongs to me. It is none of my business where you acquired it from but if you don't mind I'd like to have it back now."

These items belong to us. We have paid for them with our own hard earned money and not only are we entitled to have them rightfully returned but we also deserve to know how they found their way back home, in the rare instance they should. I'm not saying that I'm not more than willing to show my appreciation for someone who helps me out and returns to me what is rightfully mine. I am saying that I will never compromise my humanity by offering you money to return what has been taken from me. In the legal system I believe that such a "reward" is referred to as ransom.

So here's my promise to you, good citizen's of the world, if you can return my wife's bicycle and/or trailer, you will be rewarded but not by me, by yourself, knowing that you've helped your neighbor. I will expect nothing less should I do you such a service. This reward is one that you will always carry with you and cannot lose and that my friend is priceless.