Albert Lea Discussion Forum » Printable Version of Topic » Who took the kids BMX dirt racing bike?

Forum: Current Events
Topic: Who took the kids BMX dirt racing bike?
started by: Boomerrang

Posted by Boomerrang on Aug. 18 2011,7:59 pm

Where's the bike? Let's find the bike so the kid can go racing again.

http://www.albertleatribune.com/2011/08/16/please-return-my-stolen-dirt-bike/

Please return my stolen dirt bike
Published 8:49am Tuesday, August 16, 2011

.Hello, my name is Culley Larson, and I am 10 years old and live in Albert Lea. This past Saturday someone stole my BMX bike out of my parents’ garage. I love this town, and I am sad that people steal other kids’ bikes. This is something I do not understand.

I am writing this letter to ask for your help. If you have kids, look to see if you have a bike at your house that does not belong to you. Parents, please ask your kids if any of their friends have a new bike lately? If you do not have kids, be on a lookout for anyone who has gotten a new bike the past couple of days. If you see the bike, call the police. If you have the bike, please bring it back.

I am willing to use some of my own money that I have saved as a reward to get my bike back. I know other kids get their bikes stolen. I have read it myself in the newspaper. I am hoping my letter will not only help me, but maybe help other kids also get their bikes back. I hope 10 other kids also get their bikes back. If they do we can have a celebration and call it “get your bike back day.” It would be the best day ever!

A kid getting their bike stolen is like a grown up getting their car stolen. My bike is a Haro Pro Race bike with a black frame and white seat and white handle bars. My parents take me to Mankato every Wednesday to race on a dirt trail. This bike is very specific to the sport and has special tires. This is my summer sport, and I cannot race the track on my legs. I need my bike.

I have said a little prayer for my bike. I hope God is listening. I also asked God to help someone to make the right decision. I love my God, I love my family, I love my bike.

Culley Larson

Albert Lea

Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 23 2011,9:06 am

Maybe it's at The Alamo, in the basement.

All kidding aside, I do hope this story ends like the movie I just referenced - with this kid getting his bike back (except, hopefully, without having to have a "big adventure").

Posted by Boomerrang on Aug. 23 2011,9:22 am

Make sure to lock the garage doors next time. I did read an article in the local paper that stated the Dad of this kid said he noticed the garage light on when they returned home. The kid did his part by making sure his bike was in the garage when the family left for the day. Sound like the parents didn't do there part by locking the doors!!!!

Albert Lea Tribune.

Albert Lea Police Department officer Darren Grangruth arrived around 2:40 p.m. at 204 N. Shore Ave. He met with Culley’s father, Mike, who told the officer the family was away from home between 6 and 11 p.m. the night before.

“When they returned home, he noticed that the lights were on inside the garage, and he just reached in and shut them off, not checking anything at that time,” the officer wrote in his report.

Mike mentioned that a friend of his son had stopped by at about 7:30 p.m. to pick up a bike and the lights weren’t on at that time. Ultimately, the family determined someone came to the unlocked garage between 7:30 and 10 the night before, opened the garage door,

turned on the garage lights, took the Haro and shut and door, leaving the lights on. Nothing else was missing from the garage.

Posted by twingroves on Aug. 23 2011,11:43 am

WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH THIS KIDS BIKE HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD HIS BIKE STOLEN MAYBE ITS BECAUSE HIS DAD IS A BIG SHOT IN SOME COMPANY

Posted by This is my real name on Aug. 23 2011,12:09 pm

(twingroves @ Aug. 23 2011,11:43 am)

QUOTE

WHATS THE BIG DEAL WITH THIS KIDS BIKE HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAD HIS BIKE STOLEN MAYBE ITS BECAUSE HIS DAD IS A BIG SHOT IN SOME COMPANY

I think the big deal was not so much the stolen bike, but the well-written letter to the editor from someone so young. Why it caught NATIONAL attention, I don't know.

I doubt it has anything to do with his parents. You sound bitter. Do you suffer from class envy?

Posted by White Pride on Aug. 23 2011,7:17 pm

(Boomerrang @ Aug. 23 2011,9:22 am)

QUOTE

The kid did his part by making sure his bike was in the garage when the family left for the day. Sound like the parents didn't do there part by locking the doors!!!!

Kids now days understand full-well how a lock works, and are perfectly capable of locking the door as well. Just sayin'

Posted by Wolfie on Aug. 23 2011,8:02 pm

His mother helped him write the letter. Probably the same way most parents "help" with other projects, by doing and then asking if what they did was good enough. That being said, there was a letter to the editor by someone that owns a bike company, not sure which one, but they offered him a new bike, pick of the litter you might say. < http://www.albertleatribune.com/2011...s-tough > . Personally I think this has been blown WAY out of proportion. I know, I know leaving the garage unlocked doesn't give anyone the right to enter and take things. I personally have had things stolen three times, all three times, the offender broke in and took what they wanted. It will probably be discovered that the person that stole the bike is known to the family. Life is full of disappointment, the sooner his family teaches him that the better off he will be. Another tough lesson to learn is about trust, the only person you can truly trust 100% is yourself.

Posted by White Pride on Aug. 24 2011,1:58 am

LOL I was just looking for the "like" button...

Posted by Boomerrang on Aug. 26 2011,7:37 pm

Time to meet Donald Trump. The kid should ask for a pure golden bike from the high roller. Note to parents; I hope you locked the Garage and House when you left town this time. Because there will be more than just a bike missing.

Culley Larson to be on ‘Fox & Friends’
Published 5:10pm Friday, August 26, 2011 Albert Lea Tribune.

The 10-year-old Albert Lea boy who wrote a letter to the editor with the help of his mother about his bike being stolen is going to be on “Fox & Friends” Monday morning with Donald Trump.

The show flew Culley Larson and his parents and sister to New York on Friday, just in time to experience the approach of Hurricane Irene. The Tribune reached the family on Friday about an hour after their airplane landed. Mike, Vicki, Culley and 13-year-old daughter Haley were in a black service car hired by the show to shuttle them to the Warwick Hotel in Manhattan, across from the Museum of Modern Art and five blocks from Central Park.

Trump is a New York real estate tycoon who has made his way into show business and is on the NBC show “The Apprentice.” However, he often visits “Fox & Friends” on Mondays. The show airs on the Fox News cable channel 7 to 10 a.m. Central time, 6 to 9 a.m. Eastern.

Trump saw a segment Fox News aired about the letter and contacted the Larsons last week about giving Culley a bike on the air. While the family declined a bike, they said they would accept one for their local effort called 10 Bikes for 10 Kids, which aims to replace kids’ bikes that have been stolen.

Culley didn’t quite know who Trump was. His mother said he explained to a friend he was going to New York to meet a famous singer named “Donald Trumpet.”

On the drive, the service car driver pointed out one of Trump’s buildings and Culley began to get an idea of who he is. The family doesn’t watch much grown-up TV.

“In my house, if it’s not SpongeBob, it’s not on,” Vicki said.

Culley said the coolest thing about New York in the first hour was a homeless man who tapped on the glass of the car and the driver gave him some change. Well, that and the tall buildings.

“It’s really cool, and it is not like Albert Lea,” he said. “Lots of people honk their horns.”

He said he wants to ride in a yellow Checker cab with glass between the driver and the passenger.

The boy said he wasn’t really sure yet what he was going to say to the national TV audience but probably something along the lines of what was said in the letter.

The letter, which first appeared in the Albert Lea Tribune on Aug. 16, struck a chord with many people who had their bike stolen as a child or parents with a kid whose bike had been stolen. Culley garnered regional and national media attention last week that culminated with an appearance Aug. 19 on “Good Morning America” of him reading his letter to the editor. Many people from across the country offered to replace the bike that had been stolen from him on the night of Aug. 12.

Vicki said she is worried about Hurricane Irene. New York was slated to start evacuations Saturday with public transportation shutting down the same day.

“We come to New York for the first time, and of all things we get to experience a hurricane,” she said.

The Larsons are scheduled to fly back to Minnesota on Monday following the taping. That is, if flights aren’t delayed.

A letter from a producer of “Fox & Friends” to Vicki said the show is the highest rated morning cable newscast, with roughly 2 million viewers.

“We would certainly give Culley the opportunity to discuss his goal of getting bikes donated,” the producer wrote.

Posted by HiggsBoson on Aug. 27 2011,10:11 am

(Wolfie @ Aug. 23 2011,8:02 pm)

QUOTE

...Personally I think this has been blown WAY out of proportion... Life is full of disappointment, the sooner his family teaches him that the better off he will be...

Wolfie hits it pretty much on the head. Face it, this kid won't lack for much of anything. Yet, there are kids in this very town who don't know where their next meal is. And who gets the attention? This bike evidently wasn't some Wal-Mart special. For that reason, Twin Groves also makes a good point.

Kid, your bike is probably lying on the bottom of Fountain Lake at the end of your dock or another one after whoever took it had a blast riding it into the lake a few times.

Instead of trying to get your bike back, why not expend this media frenzy on helping less fortunate kids get what they really need.

Posted by twingroves on Aug. 28 2011,7:58 am

IS THIS KIDS DAD A BIG SHOT IN LOU RICH

Posted by Boomerrang on Aug. 28 2011,8:15 am

(twingroves @ Aug. 28 2011,7:58 am)

QUOTE

IS THIS KIDS DAD A BIG SHOT IN LOU RICH

He's the Owner. I have never worked for him but I have talked with him before and what I can tell he's a low key guy in the public. Also nice family with good family morals and put there kids first in life.

Here's how I see the situation.

1. The kid did his job and put the bike in the garage when the family left town that day. Good job kid.

2. Parents didn't check and make sure the garage door was locked.

3. If someone breaks into a LOCKED garage door or house you file a police report and turn it into the Insurance company. You pay the deductable and end of story.

Posted by Mamma on Aug. 28 2011,9:02 am

I think this kid has started some bike donation thing where he is looking to give bikes to kids who can't afford one. Called something like 10 bikes for 10 kids or something down that line.

Posted by Stone-Magnon on Aug. 28 2011,9:20 am

The boy just wants HIS bike back. My favorite bike got stolen too and it broke me. I was 11-12. At 10 it would've been even worse. It's really a boys first love. I'm still trying to get it back. I can't believe Haro didn't jump all over this and get him his exact bike back. Everyones using this for their own benefit like Trump.

I have a radical thought. How about his parents stop voting for tax cuts for the wealthy so we can have more income distribution so the poor kids won't have to steal from the rich kids. :blush:

Life was better when big money was taxed. Big money knew how to keep a lid on government spending.

Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 28 2011,1:04 pm

(Stone-Magnon @ Aug. 28 2011,9:20 am)

QUOTE

My favorite bike got stolen too and it broke me. It's really a boys first love. I'm still trying to get it back.

Did it look like this?

Posted by Stone-Magnon on Aug. 28 2011,3:30 pm

Posted by MADDOG on Aug. 28 2011,4:53 pm

And that has to do what with a bike?

Posted by Botto 82 on Aug. 28 2011,4:56 pm

Is Culley related to Ashton Larson?

Posted by alcitizens on Aug. 28 2011,6:54 pm

(MADDOG @ Aug. 28 2011,4:53 pm)

QUOTE

And that has to do what with a bike?

Those were the days my friends.. We thought they'd never end..

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 01 2011,11:25 am

(Boomerrang @ Aug. 28 2011,8:15 am)

QUOTE

(twingroves @ Aug. 28 2011,7:58 am)

QUOTE

IS THIS KIDS DAD A BIG SHOT IN LOU RICH

I bet the Dad of this kid was just as excited to meet Donald Trump. Being a owner of a smaller company.

Posted by Lolo on Sep. 01 2011,12:57 pm

@Botto82-No, they are not related to Ashton Larson.

@Boomerang-Culley's Dad is not the owner of Lou-Rich. He is the CEO.

@Stone-you've got it right. Culley just wants HIS bike back.

@All-Remember, this started as a simple letter to the editor of the newspaper with a plea for a theif to return something that isn't his/hers. I don't think the Larsons would ever attract this kind of media attention on purpose.

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 01 2011,5:57 pm

Lolo ,

Next time you see the family tell them to lock the garage door because that will help Culley keep his bike.

I also see the family gave in and on the show Trump said he will be buying Culley a new bike. A even better bike. Culley will have some good show and tell stories come this school year.

Posted by twingroves on Sep. 01 2011,6:20 pm

2 MORE BIKES GOT STOLEN HAVE THESE 2 KIDS WRITE A LETTER TO THE PAPER AND THEY WILL GET TO GO TO SEE TRUMP AND GET NEW BIKES BUT THEIR DAD IS NOT A BIG SHOT AT A COMPANY SO THATS DOWN THE DRAIN

Posted by Liberal on Sep. 01 2011,7:40 pm

I'm sure FOX, and Trump knew his dad was CEO of a small company. :sarcasm:

I don't mean to lump everyone in this town together but why is it that this town turns on people that have good fortune? It's like we want people to do well, but if they do too well we turn on them.

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 01 2011,8:10 pm

I think it's great that the kid wrote the letter to the editor because that makes other parents in town beware if you see an extra bike around the house something might be wrong. Also , the kid with the help of his parents are also helping to fundraise money for other kids stolden bikes to get replaced.

The lesson to be learned is LOCK your garage and house to help avoid this from happing to your kids.

Posted by twingroves on Sep. 01 2011,8:20 pm

ALL A LOCK DOES IS KEEP A HONEST PERSON HONEST

Posted by This is my real name on Sep. 02 2011,6:59 am

(twingroves @ Sep. 01 2011,6:20 pm)

QUOTE

2 MORE BIKES GOT STOLEN HAVE THESE 2 KIDS WRITE A LETTER TO THE PAPER AND THEY WILL GET TO GO TO SEE TRUMP AND GET NEW BIKES BUT THEIR DAD IS NOT A BIG SHOT AT A COMPANY SO THATS DOWN THE DRAIN

Twingroves, you REEEAAALLY seem to have a beef with Lou-Rich for some reason. Did you work there and get fired? Or do you still work there and hate your job?

If you hate your job that much, quit and find something else. Then again, given the content of most of your posts, you seem to be the kind of person who isn't happy unless they're miserable.

Why are you so jealous and hateful of people who are more successful than you? Is the man keeping you down? Almost every one of your posts is either complaining about something or blaming someone for something.

Your post I'm quoting here was just ridiculous. Do you really think someone with the wealth of Donald Trump thinks of Mike Larson as a "big shot"? Maybe he just was impressed with the kid's story. But don't let that get in the way of your hate. You seem to thrive on it.

Posted by Lolo on Sep. 02 2011,7:27 am

@Boomerang~Haven't you ever made a mistake and said, "Duh...that was dumb?" Afterall, they were just leaving for a couple of hours the way it sounds.

@Liberal~THANK YOU!! It seems we "lynch mob" everyone who wants to do a good deed and that strays everyone else from even trying.

Culley is donating all of the bikes he has received from this extravaganza. It's called "10 bikes for 10 kids." Commendable in my books...maybe some could learn a lesson from this kid. :notworthy:

Posted by twingroves on Sep. 02 2011,8:26 am

IS HE GOING TO GIVE A BIKE TO THOSE 2 KIDS OR IS HE GOING TO GIVE THEM TO HIS RICH FREINDS

Posted by hymiebravo on Sep. 02 2011,8:35 am

I don't watch TV and I don't know who these people are that wrote this letter.

But I think that twingroves makes a good point. Millions of bikes have been taken and will continue to be taken. There will be no fanfare surrounding any of them.

I had a pretty nice bike taken from me at one time myself. The idea that this much hoopla would have been created over such an event is silly. IMO

How about asking - why Chinese made bikes cost so ridiculously much in the first place?

Or what about the skyrocketing cost of food?

No. . . lets watch our boob tubes and worship Donald Trump. lol

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 02 2011,3:27 pm

If I was the kids Dad I would keep my eye on old Donald trump so he doesn't make the moves on his wife. Trump the stud.

Posted by MADDOG on Sep. 02 2011,7:03 pm

(Boomerrang @ Sep. 02 2011,3:27 pm)

QUOTE

If I was the kids Dad I would keep my eye on old Donald trump so he doesn't make the moves on his wife. Trump the stud.

Is this one of your attempts at humor?

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 02 2011,7:11 pm

Who let the DOGS out WHO , WHO!!!! :rofl:

Posted by MADDOG on Sep. 02 2011,7:56 pm

I was going to say something, but...oh what the he^^. You should to pull up your pants, the crack of your intelligence is showing.

Posted by jrhanson_75 on Sep. 02 2011,10:17 pm

I can not believe that this has gotten this crazy!!! I mean really we have all had something taken from us at some point... and I know for a fact that this child is not the only boy in AL that has had his bike taken this summer. If in fact all he wanted was his "original" bike back well I would have to say that who ever took it would be out of their minds to try to give it back now. Could you think of what kind of attention that would bring?

I almost feel bad for the poor kid who took the bike. I would never teach my own kids that it is ok to take something that isn't yours but I also would not teach my child what this boy is learning. Rich or Not.

Posted by Boomerrang on Sep. 03 2011,1:09 am

(MADDOG @ Sep. 02 2011,7:03 pm)

QUOTE

(Boomerrang @ Sep. 02 2011,3:27 pm)

QUOTE

If I was the kids Dad I would keep my eye on old Donald trump so he doesn't make the moves on his wife. Trump the stud.

Is this one of your attempts at humor?

Hey DOG ,

Try and stay on topic. This is about the kids bike and Mr. Trump. :rockon:

Posted by MN mama on Sep. 18 2011,9:40 pm

OK folks...The kids bike was STOLEN...His mom taught him a lesson about being proactive and to try to solve a problem...not just whine about it. Who cares how much money this family has...someone violated his rights by taking something that was his.

The garage was unlocked? So what! People do not have the right to steal!

Yes...lots of unfortunate kids are out there. His letter wasn't about that. It was that people do not have a right to take what is not theirs. If he was a poor kid, would people feel differently about his letter? Family wealth is NOT the issue. It is stealing. End of story!

Kudos to Cully and his mom for taking appropriate steps and being proactive.

Posted by Rosalind_Swenson on Sep. 19 2011,4:31 am

(MN mama @ Sep. 18 2011,9:40 pm)

QUOTE

Posted by Stone-Magnon on Sep. 19 2011,9:14 am

I say give every kid a sting ray type banana seat bike with a sissy bar let em cruise. I used to BMX em before BMX. We invented BMX on "bumper hills" and then it spread to California where many of us had relatives at the time.

But BMX aren't cruising bikes. You cruise on your banana seat bikes boys. Girls still love em. Cars full of girls will be honking at yelling at you. Even Justin Bieber rode one onstage. You can stand up while riding and the geometry is semi-recumbent.

This area used to be much more California like. Now it's conservative small town weirdos who go to Marins church.

Oh well, it'll all go my way sooner or later and sooner is better. You're all going to able to freely use cannabis and ride your sting-rays before this is all over. I promise.