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OPINION > LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Sep. 2, 2010

To the Editor:

After reading Destinie Campanella’s letter (“Questioning the love,” Aug. 5) regarding her 13-year-old cousin’s plight with his bike being stolen and the injuries he sustained, I could sympathize with her and regret the fact we are sometimes helpless or hopeless.

A few days before reading her letter, I was driving down 20th Street not far from where the incident she described took place. I saw a group of about eight males between the ages of 10 and 15 riding their bikes north on 20th. At least three of them were also wheeling a second bike alongside them with no rider onboard.

Now I’m a reasonable guy, but come on! Could all three have been coming from a bicycle repair shop? A used bicycle shop? Toys “R” Us? Did three of their friends suddenly decide to walk home rather than ride their bikes and they were just doing their friends a favor?

In situations like this, wouldn’t it be nice if our police officers could just detain them for a little while and ask where did the extra bikes come from? I know our officers have a much greater responsibility to the city, but we, as residents, can’t detain them and ask the question.

The other question I have is what happens when these kids go home and have two bikes instead of one? Do the parents believe it was “Free Bike Day” somewhere?

Anthony Santini
South Philadelphia