If you’re looking to rent bikes – and don’t want to open yourself up to a rip-off from the bike rental AND from roving bicycle thieves on the lookout for their next takedown – DO NOT patronize Larry Zitto’s Crest Bike Rental on East Heather Road in Wildwood Crest! This is a guy who signs you and your kids up for extended rental (2-3 days) for an attractive price. He then HANDS YOUR KIDS A BIKE LOCK for each of the bikes! Handing out bike locks is NOT standard practice at seashore bike rentals. Let’s face it: bike locks in the hands of eager kids who can’t wait to explore the island and all its fabulous attractions – water parks, boardwalk stores, the beaches, restaurants – IMPLIES THEY CAN LOCK THEM UP ANYWHERE and have fun! But when the bikes get stolen – locks and all – Larry threatens Mom with a grand theft charge until she coughs up the $400-plus to cover the loss. GRAND THEFT? REALLY? This series of events really happened: My cousin who lives in Naples, Fla., a single mother originally from Audubon, NJ, scrimped and saved to bring her three teenagers up to Wildwood to visit their relatives for the first time over Memorial Day week. Following the above scenario, the six-day vacation is over and she is driving the 1,200 miles back to Naples, clearly rattled as she tries to reason with this man — Larry Zitto — who is screaming his threats over the phone! The outcome? Let’s see: this is an overworked, busy mother who didn’t need any more problems, so of course she sent the check. Larry Zitto’s intimidation worked! Beware this so-called businessman. Larry Zitto gives island businesses a bad name – and he’s on the supposedly upscale Wildwood Crest end of the island. Skip this bike rental!
