MTB got stolen. I've just found it on Gumtree
Discussion
After a bit of advice! Last week our garage was burgled and my MTB got stolen. I've just found it on Gumtree. But stupidly of me, I didn't have the serial number of the bike recorded anywhere. Insurance have agreed a payout based on loads of pictures I had of the bike in the garage and out and about.
Is there anything I can do to prove it's mine? What's the best route to go down? Tell the police? Insurance co?
I can't really go round and just seize the bike as I have no proof as such?
Is there anything I can do to prove it's mine? What's the best route to go down? Tell the police? Insurance co?
I can't really go round and just seize the bike as I have no proof as such?
Edited by nick s on Wednesday 6th November 12:32
Your insurance has paid out, so just tell the police and let them deal with it. Even if you've customised it I think you'd struggle to prove it was yours without some GENUINELY UNIQUE identifying feature like the serial number, or having your postcode engraved or written indelibly using UV pen.
mrmr96 said:
Your insurance has paid out, so just tell the police and let them deal with it. Even if you've customised it I think you'd struggle to prove it was yours without some GENUINELY UNIQUE identifying feature like the serial number, or having your postcode engraved or written indelibly using UV pen.
+1. Without the serial number I don't think there is much you can do. Just keep loads of photos of every mod you do to the bike I guess. Although I hear the latest trend is strip bikes and sell the parts!!paddy27 said:
mrmr96 said:
Your insurance has paid out, so just tell the police and let them deal with it. Even if you've customised it I think you'd struggle to prove it was yours without some GENUINELY UNIQUE identifying feature like the serial number, or having your postcode engraved or written indelibly using UV pen.
+1. Without the serial number I don't think there is much you can do. Just keep loads of photos of every mod you do to the bike I guess. Although I hear the latest trend is strip bikes and sell the parts!!nick s said:
This is the thing though. It has the pedals, mudguards, two different bottle cages and handlebars that I put on the bike! The stupid idiot even left the yellow valve caps on that I used with my new inner tubes! Is it best to just leave it then if insurance are paying out?
Have you considered phoning the police?I appreciate they may be disinterested but calling them and insisting they take action sounds like a damn good idea.
What are the odds of a bike thief having only one stolen bike on hand?
Vocal Minority said:
If you did get it back I would certainly be prepared to pay the insurance company back in full.
Would you prefer a new bike or your old one back? If you can't prove its yours, I guess that is a moot point.
Very good point! I'd rather have the new one. I guess it's just the principle of it really. It makes me furious that people do this!Would you prefer a new bike or your old one back? If you can't prove its yours, I guess that is a moot point.
The guy seems honest though and turns out it's actually for sale in a 2nd hand bike shop about 70 miles away. What's the likely scenario here then?
The little toerag who stole it has sold it on to him?
nick s said:
The guy seems honest though and turns out it's actually for sale in a 2nd hand bike shop...
What on earth can he possibly have done to persuade you that he is honest??!!You know for a fact he is handling stolen goods.
He runs a shop that deals in one of the most oft stolen items.
Can I interest you in a bridge I have for sale?
All very valid points!
I did consider ringing and levelling with him and asking who he got the bike from as that's all I care about. But on 2nd thoughts he's obviously got a dodgy contact who supplies him with these stolen bikes. So I think i'll just stop texting and inform the police. as the chances of all his other bikes being stolen is extremely high!
So tempting to confront him though!
I did consider ringing and levelling with him and asking who he got the bike from as that's all I care about. But on 2nd thoughts he's obviously got a dodgy contact who supplies him with these stolen bikes. So I think i'll just stop texting and inform the police. as the chances of all his other bikes being stolen is extremely high!
So tempting to confront him though!
I'd phone / go round there being friendly as possible, sussing out the seller (appears you have done this)
Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
The above will work, only hurdle is getting the test ride. If not bring a mate and just take it. The above comes from someone who had a bike nicked and got it back.....
Insurance or not, i'd be livid if someone nicked one of my bikes and I would simply want it back.
The shop should of taken adequate due diligence to ensure the bike wasn't nicked, I mean it isn't rocket science and they will know with what they are dealing with. My local LBS has told me in depth about all the scrotes who offer them top end bikes, they do not sell second hand for this very reason.
Police might give a s
t, but their priories are else where and you don't have a serial.
Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
The above will work, only hurdle is getting the test ride. If not bring a mate and just take it. The above comes from someone who had a bike nicked and got it back.....
Insurance or not, i'd be livid if someone nicked one of my bikes and I would simply want it back.
The shop should of taken adequate due diligence to ensure the bike wasn't nicked, I mean it isn't rocket science and they will know with what they are dealing with. My local LBS has told me in depth about all the scrotes who offer them top end bikes, they do not sell second hand for this very reason.
Police might give a s
t, but their priories are else where and you don't have a serial.TwistingMyMelon said:
I'd phone / go round there being friendly as possible, sussing out the seller (appears you have done this)
Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
http://grist.org/list/girl-steals-bike-back-from-bike-thief/Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
A hawt girl did it, so you can too!
I work with a sweet chap - his bike was stolen. he went and bought it back. Bless.
daddy cool said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
I'd phone / go round there being friendly as possible, sussing out the seller (appears you have done this)
Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
http://grist.org/list/girl-steals-bike-back-from-bike-thief/Ask to take the bike for a spin/down the road, act nervous and say you haven't ridden in years and want to test it out, dress smart. ENSURE IT IS ACTUALLY YOUR BIKE!
..Ride off into the sunset with YOUR bike
A hawt girl did it, so you can too!
I work with a sweet chap - his bike was stolen. he went and bought it back. Bless.
nick s said:
I did consider ringing and levelling with him and asking who he got the bike from as that's all I care about. But on 2nd thoughts he's obviously got a dodgy contact who supplies him with these stolen bikes. So I think i'll just stop texting and inform the police. as the chances of all his other bikes being stolen is extremely high!
So tempting to confront him though!
The chances of the burglar getting convicted for it are somewhere between remote and none... unless he already has a string of convictions for the same offences. So tempting to confront him though!
I personally would just go up there with a mate and take it. What can they do, you own it?
The shop, if they are legit, which I very much doubt, would then possibly think twice about buying stolen bikes. Most likely; they know it's stolen and getting them nicked back is an occupational hazard for them.
I'd call the police before doing anything. At least then there'll be a record somewhere of you saying the bike was yours before you go and take it back.
If you go and take it from the guy and he calls the Police, you don't really want to end up with the hassle of getting arrested if they manage to track you down. Plus, if he knows the thief and the thief knows where he got the bike from, he may come back looking for it again and/or it's replacement, who knows?
Also, I thought that 2nd hand shops normally keep records these days of where they get stuff from to cover their own backs when someone gets picked up with stolen property that can be proven was bought in their shop.
If you go and take it from the guy and he calls the Police, you don't really want to end up with the hassle of getting arrested if they manage to track you down. Plus, if he knows the thief and the thief knows where he got the bike from, he may come back looking for it again and/or it's replacement, who knows?
Also, I thought that 2nd hand shops normally keep records these days of where they get stuff from to cover their own backs when someone gets picked up with stolen property that can be proven was bought in their shop.
Max_Torque said:
What a fricking ridiculous thing to do! You have no proof that the guy selling "your" bike actually stole it. They may have bought it in "good faith" from the guy who did steal it for example. Ring the police, let them sort it out.
Its not ridiculous if you want your bike back. The bike shop should carry out reasonable steps to ensure the bike wasn't taken and "good faith" isnt one of them. Thats even giving them the benefit of the doubt, the shop probably know the bike is nicked or at best turned a blind eyeOP post link! The shop might be "known"
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