The Police do care / Proving a bike is yours

[marinyork]

The old cycling paramedic's bike was stolen up this way just over a week ago. Just saying shows you how unimportant they think bikes are to the peasants. I've no idea whether it was found or not (there's not been a story saying it was found AFAIK), I kept an eye out for it on the estate it was last seen near but I just think it's a bit comical they expect the public to help out when they daint to even venture into these places.

 

[summerdays]

I could later provide lots of photos..., also if it was at this time of year I would be able to provide the lights that fit the mounts on the bike (ok alot of lights fit a smart fitting but my BLT rear light would be more unusual).

Like Mr Plod would actually know that though...

No but I could produce a light that fitted the bracket whereas they couldn't ... and I could always point to the other bikes nearby and show how few of them (none probably) would have the fitting that my light went onto.

Summerdays - how does a bacon, lettuce and tomato light work then?

Ha ha... its a special flashing light in pink, green and red.... - told you it was unusual

 

[BentMikey]

Do you think I'd have any trouble proving ownership of my bike?

 

[hackbike 666]

Do you think I'd have any trouble proving ownership of my bike?

Yes.

 

[marinyork]

At the end of the day you can't really demonstrate the bike is yours. The receipt I have for one of mine doesn't in depth describe what the bike is or take into account changes that may be made over time to the bike in terms of components. There are things like my brompton that's registered with them, you could give them the factory number or even walk them through the registration in your name, but it's upto to Police to actually bother (and police don't like anything mundane like that). It only covers the frame, in a hyper paranoid world who is to say you have stolen the lights or the seat or the grease or components?

If the police decided to have a chat there are all sorts of clues the bike is mine like knowing the frame numbers and being able to tell them the shop I bought it from and the date for them to go and have a word.But that investigation would rely on the competence of the police and the shop, neither of which I trust as far as I could throw them.

 

[dav1d]

The Apollo Boulevard, I could prove: eBay receipt. The Peugeot Carbolite, no as I bought it secondhand from my local market. I doubt anyone's going to ask me to prove it's mine though, everybody just laughs at it! I don't know why I like it - I was going to put it aside and not use it but I discovered the faults it had could be fixed a lot cheaper than I had first thought (thanks to my book that tells you how to fix practically anything!).

I know people think they are heavy, but it's not heavy to me, I've been riding heavier bikes for years, so it's very light to me and suits my needs. Funny thing is, my brother who has always said he wouldn't be seen dead on it actually borrowed it last night to get home!

 

[thegrumpybiker]

I had a kid with his mum report his (very distinctive) bike stolen, and they named a suspect. I was just going out on other enquiries when the suspect's brother rode up to the nick with the bike and parked it against the door. I asked whose it was, he turns round from the counter and said, 'Sorry mate, it's mine, I'll move it.'

The victim's mum had the presence of mind to postcode it.

Sure enough victim's postcode was on the bottom bracket. Matey boy blabbed his brother gave him it, and he knew it was 'hot'.

I got him for handling and his brother for theft.

Cool.

If only all thieving chav scum were such lambs to the slaughter...

 

[Twenty Inch]

Frame numbers and detailed descriptions held in a file at home, so we would have to wait but I could prove ownership, yes.