Any point reporting bike stolen?

[FreewheelingUK]

I had my Specialized mountain bike stolen in Shepherd's Bush yesterday. It's a few years old now so not worth a massive amount. It's not insured. Should I report it stolen at the police station anyway, or will that just be a waste of time? I have proof of purchase and it's registered on immobilise.com.

 

[Kiwiavenger]

May as well report it, they will have a record of it and if by chance they find it you can be reunited with it.

May not be worth much but it's still your bike that some scrote has got their hands on. You might be able to report online as well, check the local forces website

Sent from my LT15i using Tapatalk 2

 

[sidevalve]

As above, I'd say report it [you may even get it back] but at least it will add to the statistics of bike thefts in your area. Not a lot of comfort I know but it could help in the long run.

 

[400bhp]

:sigh: Can't believe this question is being asked. :holds head in despair:

 

[FreewheelingUK]

Thanks for the suggestion of reporting online Kiwiavenger. I've just reported it on the Met police's online crime reporting page.

I think spending my time queuing up in a police station would have just added insult to injury.

 

[Ian Cooper]

I think it's very important to report bike theft and to register bikes if local or national government have a registry. The more bikes that are registered, the more stolen bikes that are reported, the more seriously the authorities will take such matters.

 

[Globalti]

If only for this reason it's worth reporting. If bike thefts begin to figure more prominently in crime statistics Police forces will have to take more notice.

However as for finding a stolen bike, don't hold your breath. When I found a stolen bike dumped in a stream and took it to the local Police station the counter clerk sighed: "Another bike? We'll chuck it in the shed round the back with all the others!" and filled in a short report in a huge ledger. When I saw that I realised there was zero possibility of anybody linking my find with somebody else's stolen report on the computer.

 

[machew]

Also, some insurance company ask for the Crime number when you submit a claim

 

[doug]

Do you have household contents insurance ? The bike may be covered by that, even away from home.