jack smith
Veteran
- Location
- Durham
that definatley seems like the best option, but remember to get arranging it asap or the bike will be long gone, what sort of bike is it?? i would strongly advise you find someone to go with you though
Bike stolen - situation
- Thread starter MacLean
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
Kill him on sight and be done with it. New York Fagh lock should do it, right to the head !
Maybe I'm giving the thief too much credit, but if I was selling something and the buyer wanted a test ride, I'd ask for something of theirs first so they don't ride off. Like keys.
Maybe you can buy some cheap padlocks (for their keys) and make them think you're giving them your actual keys, and so, won't just leave.
Maybe you can buy some cheap padlocks (for their keys) and make them think you're giving them your actual keys, and so, won't just leave.
BRounsley
Veteran
My bikes where stolen and my road bike (in parts) appeared on ebay months later.
Part of me wanted to take my anger out on the individual who had the bike but I decided I’d go down the official route and got the police involved.
It was the right thing to do as ebay seller turned out to be innocent seller. He’d bought the bike for a decent amount and had a receipt for it, he’s out of pocket for £650.
The police traced the guy who handled the bike and he’s being done for handling.
The police were very good. The thing I had to do (other than spot the bike) was prove it was my bike, which I did with pictures (showing marks). This allowed the police to get a search warrant, which started the ball rolling.
The part where it’s all gone wrong is I still don’t have the bike back, as its evidence.
Part of me wanted to take my anger out on the individual who had the bike but I decided I’d go down the official route and got the police involved.
It was the right thing to do as ebay seller turned out to be innocent seller. He’d bought the bike for a decent amount and had a receipt for it, he’s out of pocket for £650.
The police traced the guy who handled the bike and he’s being done for handling.
The police were very good. The thing I had to do (other than spot the bike) was prove it was my bike, which I did with pictures (showing marks). This allowed the police to get a search warrant, which started the ball rolling.
The part where it’s all gone wrong is I still don’t have the bike back, as its evidence.
glasgowcyclist
Charming but somewhat feckless
- Location
- Scotland
Do the police retain recovered stolen cars pending trial these days too, or do they get returned to the owner? Seems daft unless there was some other serious crime committed with it.
GC
But you will get it back in the end right??
I have told the police distinct features about the bike that were not visible in the gumtree add. I know its mine though because it was first advertised the day after mine was robbed with the fresh tires I put on it that day My finger prints should be all over the tyre sidewalls.
I have had a reply from police saying that several enquiries are still ongoing with my case so considering I don't have any big buddies as back up am now leaning towards police option... This is where I'm teetering - whether to trust the police will follow the breadcrumbs slowly but surely - or go against what they have advised and contact myself in a risky meetup...
Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
Okay, I'll be the one to play Devil's Advocate. Are you definitely sure it's yours? Some years ago, a lodger had what we thought was a rather unglue a bike stolen from my shed and when we went down to view the most recent collection the police had hauled in, there were three that matched it. He hadn't noted the serial number, so he just guessed. 
classic33
Leg End Member
Having actually set up a meeting, to do what many are saying to do, to try and verify that the trike was mine. Can I say approach with caution!
I had a shotgun pulled on me, after I'd explained what the beeping coming from the rucksack was & explaining that it was mine, stolen some three months previously. The beeping being a positive ID on the chip hidden within the frame.
I had a shotgun pulled on me, after I'd explained what the beeping coming from the rucksack was & explaining that it was mine, stolen some three months previously. The beeping being a positive ID on the chip hidden within the frame.
Okay, I'll be the one to play Devil's Advocate. Are you definitely sure it's yours? Some years ago, a lodger had what we thought was a rather unglue a bike stolen from my shed and when we went down to view the most recent collection the police had hauled in, there were three that matched it. He hadn't noted the serial number, so he just guessed.
Main indicators that I'm using to determine its mine:
Bike/time of add: the model I have is not the most popular and they seem few and far between (compared to other bikes), this add went up the day after mine was stolen - same colours, same chainset, same large frame (I'm over 6ft so most bikes are on small side for me) and is advertised in same area it was stolen.
Tyres: I mounted brand new tyres the day it was stolen - on the add these tyres were clearly visible.
Valve - I distinctly remember mounting the tube that morning and the valve was sticking out at an odd angle after pumping it all up - I remember thinking should I remount it and then went 'na it'll be fine' - this was clearly visible in the add.
So not 100% but I'd say somewhere between 80% and 90%
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
The thief appears to have been spooked.
Were I him, I would keep your bike out of the way for a few months and steal some others in the meantime to keep the money coming in.
If you can still arrange a test ride, could you ride fast and far enough to take the bike?
If so, he may let you ride it in exchange for the security of a couple of bank or credit cards, which you could cancel as lost/stolen.
This would protect you financially, but the thief would have your name as it appears on the card.
I wouldn't worry about that too much, the chances of him following that up in the circumstances are low.
Were I him, I would keep your bike out of the way for a few months and steal some others in the meantime to keep the money coming in.
If you can still arrange a test ride, could you ride fast and far enough to take the bike?
If so, he may let you ride it in exchange for the security of a couple of bank or credit cards, which you could cancel as lost/stolen.
This would protect you financially, but the thief would have your name as it appears on the card.
I wouldn't worry about that too much, the chances of him following that up in the circumstances are low.
Leodis
Veteran
- Location
- Moortown, Leeds
The worst part of a stolen bike is the innocent person who bought it, they lose the bike and money, they are often forgotten about.
Lanzecki
Über Member
- Location
- A Boreen, Ireland
And that's why you don't buy from a bloke that wants to meet in a car park and who know little about the bike. Not to mention 5 mins research will tell you what it's worth. If the seller's not asking almost that, walk away.
I've had 3 bikes stolen (Don't ask). 1 was recovered by the police only to be stolen 2 weeks later (GT Karakoram) and my beloved Kona Lava Dome after 3 years of ownership 2 days later I saw an identical bike after never seeing the same model for those 3 years. It wasn't my bike though, thankfully I had the serial number noted in my wallet, or I'd be the one stealing a bike.
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
You can't accuse someone of theft and take a bike off them because your almost sure its yours. If you don't have positive I D such as a frame number ,smart ink or whatever you have to give it up IMHO a wonky valve is not exactly unique.
It sounds pretty likely that its yours but can you say 100 % from any identifying marks ?
It sounds pretty likely that its yours but can you say 100 % from any identifying marks ?
Last edited:
Cycling Dan
Cycle Crazy
Meet in a park, check beforehand for cameras or something. Take a few friends, masks and blunt long objects of your choosing.
Beat the kid to a pulp but not enough to require hospitalization.
Leave him so he can still get home, work the upper body but not the face.
Take the bike ride round to the pub and celebrate.
Burn all evidence beforehand.
Beat the kid to a pulp but not enough to require hospitalization.
Leave him so he can still get home, work the upper body but not the face.
Take the bike ride round to the pub and celebrate.
Burn all evidence beforehand.
Last edited:
Lol give it up? I'm quite aware the odds of getting it back are against me, and have already ordered its replacement - but I'm still going to be pushing the Police and keeping my eyes peeled for it. Giving up is the only thing that will guarantee I never get it back.
I have given the police several marks on the bike that were not visible in the add due to photo angles/resolution, but will be on it should they locate the theif/bike.
Okay the vavle is just one of the points I made above - agreed any one of those points alone is not much to ID a bike - but combine them together and you are then narrowing things down quite a bit IMO.
Last edited:
