A couple visiting from Colorado had their bikes stolen — and their vacation spoiled — by a "mid 30’s well-dressed white couple" in Santa Monica on St. Patrick's Day. They vent about the perps in a letter published in today's Santa Monica Daily Press, and notify the mayor they won't be coming back:

To the couple who stole our bikes off our truck St. Patrick’s Day. I thought maybe you would want to know us better. My wife is a special needs early childhood teacher. I work construction. It took several weeks of work to pay for those bikes that you stole in minutes. We were able to watch you on the security camera tapes; obviously well dressed and obviously experienced at stealing. We want you to know that you did not totally ruin our vacation, but you put an awful damper on it. We are able (at most) to take one trip a year. We live where we have winter weather from October until June so it is nice to go to sunny California and thaw out. We bring our bikes and ride, as it is our favorite thing to do there. You stole our bikes just as we got there. We did not get a chance to ride even once on the beach path.

Now, I don’t wish you harm but I hope some day (sooner than later) you have a Karmic moment and realize the pain your actions have caused others. You have ruined a vacation, you have caused financial harm, and you created sadness. We live a life of generosity. We give of ourselves in many ways. It is hard to understand why somebody like you came into our life. We have referred to you as the not so fun with Dick and Jane couple.

To the Mayor and Community: This was a return trip to Santa Monica for us. We have been coming to California for many years. This year we made a special trip to the [Fort] Rosecrans [National] Cemetery to pay tribute to a nephew we lost in the current war, then we drove up to Santa Monica for a few days of Rand R. It was ruined by an older (perhaps mid 30’s) well-dressed white couple who stole our bikes. We won’t come back to Santa Monica. That experience has left us with a bad feeling for your community. We will not return.

To the not so fun Dick and Jane — please stop, don’t ruin more people’s vacations/lives by your selfish and greedy actions taking what is not yours and causing harm to others.

Rick Davis
Glenwood Springs, Colo.