Possible stolen bike?

[aaa]

I recently bought a bike second hand off ebay. I've run a search on the Bike Register (http://www.bikeregister.com) and it turns up as registered but not marked as stolen.

However, when I google the frame number it turns up on some random website where someone claims it has been stolen.

Is it possible that it's just a case of a duplicate frame number? My bike is slightly different from the one mentioned on this other website (e.g. it's black not blue, it's a Trek 7.1fx not a 7.0fx etc).

Also, assuming it's not stolen, will the bikeregister people be able to transfer the registration to me?

 

[andyfromotley]

Call me old fashioned but a new member with first post asking how to reregister a possible stolen bike strikes me as suspicous.

But to be fair if you post a photo of youself with the bike i will reconsider.

andy

 

[aaa]

You're not old fashioned - you're just an idiot.

Fine, ignore the question about registering a stolen bike.

What I want to know is whether or not it's possible Trek manufactured 2 bikes with the same frame number? Do people who normally steal bikes go to to the trouble of painting them with an authentic looking paint job? Or is it just a coincidence that someone has posted about a stolen bike with the same frame number as mine, but a slightly different model/colour.

If it sounds like I've been scammed, what chances do I have of recovering my money off ebay?

 

[Crankarm]

No need to start slinging insults at established forumers. That's no way to introduce yourself and get some help. You've only come on here as you are having second thoughts about a purchase YOU have made. AndyFO's comments are totally justified and reasonable given the huge number of bikes that are stolen each year. The bottom line with purchases in particular 2nd hand purchases is caveat emptor - buyer beware.

I would raise a dispute with Ebay and contact the police if you are that anxious, otherwise keep riding it until the lawful owner knocks on your door with the police. Each bike has a unique frame number other wise there wouldn't be much point stamping one on the underside of the bottom bracket housing . Not sure if two bikes of different models would have the same frame number. One would have thought a manufacturer would be more careful with numbering all it's bikes irrespective of model. Between manufacturers I don't know. I s'pose you could get a Pinarello and a Specialised with the same frame number but in all likelihood they would probably use very different formats for numbering.

Post the link to the eBay auction so we can decide if the description looks dodgy. If you suspect the bike is stolen but do nothing and it then transpires it is, then you could be accused of handling stolen goods and prosecuted plus you would have to return the bike to it's rightful owner. You would then have to pursue your seller for the money you paid him or her for the bike which wasn't theirs to sell. So you would end up with no bike and out of pocket . Still you would have been riding around on some else's bike for however long until you had to give it back.

 

[Crackle]

Report your concerns to the police and see if it's registered stolen. As per the other thread, there could be a chance that the bike was insured and the owner has been paid out, in which case the insurance company may want a nominal fee to buy it off them.

 

[andyfromotley]

Ok, in leiu of the photo post the link to the e bay sale. Its quite simple i am concerned that there is a possibility you have stolen a bike and are trying to find out how to circumvent the register. It happens and like i say first post, no name or location are all classic signs of people who have previously done similar things on this and other websites. I belong to a forum where stolen bikes are regularly offered for sale, we tend to spot em a mile off so forgive me my suspicion.

As to me being an idiot there are dozens of people on here who would concur with you, so youre obviosly pretty perceptive. But you will also see hundreds of posts from me here on the beginners section, so i do have everyones best interests at heart, including those who have their bike stolen.
andy

 

[andyfromotley]

AAA,

how does one do a search on the bike register? I have had a look at the website and all it seems to offer is the facility to register a bike?
Could you post the link to 'some randon website' which has a similar bike with the same ser. no. as being stolen?

ta andy

 

[aaa]

Well calling you an idiot was a bit overboard, so I'm sorry for that.

Anyway, thanks for the help. I will contact the police. I'll see if I can get in touch with the previous owner and try to confirm the details. I asked about the serial number because although it would seem weird having multiple serial numbers, I vaugely recall reading on vintage-trek.com that there were some (much older) models that didn't have serial numbers/had duplicate ones for one reason or another, and wondered if it had happened again recently. I guess not.

I'm reluctant to post the ebay link because I don't want the seller getting wind of this until I'm sure. I don't mind giving it out over PM if anyone wants to check it out though.

AAA,

how does one do a search on the bike register? I have had a look at the website and all it seems to offer is the facility to register a bike?
Could you post the link to 'some randon website' which has a similar bike with the same ser. no. as being stolen?

ta andy

Right at the very bottom of the page there is a "search by frame number" box.

I was deliberately vague about the other site because it says the full frame number on it. Here's what it says (with the personal bits removed)

Stolen bicycle alert



place stolen: London

date stolen: June 2006

bike make: Trek

bike model: 7.0FX

frame colour: Blue

frame size: 17.5

frame number: *

reported to police: yes

station: Internet

contact: *

As I mentioned, mine's a 7.1FX and is definitely black. However, it is a 2006 model (so the date's reasonable) and the frame numbers match.

But he does claim that he reported it to the police..which means either he's lying or the bike register isn't necessarily a thing universally used/checked/cross referenced by the police.

 

[ed_o_brain]

Checkmend will allow you to check if a bike has been recorded as stolen on their database, for a fee. They claim to receive details of stolen bikes from law enforcement and also from the public via immobilize.com.

I bought Maffie a bike from ebay and her brother kindly collected it for me. I believed the sale to be genuine, but having received Maffie's brother's description of the seller and they way the bike was stored with other bikes, I started to have doubts.

I'm convinced the bike is hot, but a CheckMend report (which IIRC cost considerably more than it does now) showed the bike to not have been reported.

For the record, I believe andyfromotley is right to be cautious.