I've located my stolen bike..... What now??
Discussion
Hi all, i don't really know where to turn to TBH so i'm hoping that the wide PH wisdom can advise me and I'll keep it a little bit vague at the moment as i don't want anything jeapordising.
Basically i had my MTB stolen a few wks ago, Which was reported to the police at the time. Unfortunately i left iit unattended in a discreet area (keeping location vague) for 5 mins and it was gone.... (Like a twunt, as i hadn't locked it, it is uninsured)Anyway, i've now seen it advertised (advert location kept vague at the moment) there is absolutely no doubt it's mine, it had a custom paint iob and i built it from parts, all of which are still present. I have photo's of the bike on my camera. I've spoken to the olice who are looking onto it. I didn't sound too convinced of them getting a result TBH. What is the best way forward? Is it worth going and looking at? Or Just leave it to the police who told me that they have so many rules and laws that they have t o comply with that it may take a while. (by which time it will be gone again.)
Perhaps the stumbling block may be that it is now a 4+ hr drive away. Maybe it's worth the drive to kick the s
t out of the scumbag. kind of half joking....
Aologies in advance for poor spelling, punctuation and paragraph structuring due to ipad keyboard and me being in a complete rage.
Basically i had my MTB stolen a few wks ago, Which was reported to the police at the time. Unfortunately i left iit unattended in a discreet area (keeping location vague) for 5 mins and it was gone.... (Like a twunt, as i hadn't locked it, it is uninsured)Anyway, i've now seen it advertised (advert location kept vague at the moment) there is absolutely no doubt it's mine, it had a custom paint iob and i built it from parts, all of which are still present. I have photo's of the bike on my camera. I've spoken to the olice who are looking onto it. I didn't sound too convinced of them getting a result TBH. What is the best way forward? Is it worth going and looking at? Or Just leave it to the police who told me that they have so many rules and laws that they have t o comply with that it may take a while. (by which time it will be gone again.)
Perhaps the stumbling block may be that it is now a 4+ hr drive away. Maybe it's worth the drive to kick the s
t out of the scumbag. kind of half joking....Aologies in advance for poor spelling, punctuation and paragraph structuring due to ipad keyboard and me being in a complete rage.
This happended to a mate near me recently, here is what he did.. good luck!
So anyway.....
I called the police and told them that I was certain that it was my bike and that I was going to take it back, and that I wanted them to be there or nearby incase.
They waited around the corner, I went there with a mate who arrived slightly before me to keep an eye out.
A girl approached me and I asked if she was the one selling the bike. She was, she then called her boyfriend or was just getting the bike ready....
Two of them came over with my bike, he explained to me that he had spent hundreds on it and that it even had a hydraulic seat post..... Playing it cool, I asked him to show me how it worked
Asked to take it for a spin around the car park which we were in, did a couple if laps. Then preceded at speed down the road and around the corner.... Really should have strava'd that...
My mate said there faces were a picture!
I called the police and told them were they were. I think they said they saw them walking off.
I didn't hang around after that
So anyway.....
I called the police and told them that I was certain that it was my bike and that I was going to take it back, and that I wanted them to be there or nearby incase.
They waited around the corner, I went there with a mate who arrived slightly before me to keep an eye out.
A girl approached me and I asked if she was the one selling the bike. She was, she then called her boyfriend or was just getting the bike ready....
Two of them came over with my bike, he explained to me that he had spent hundreds on it and that it even had a hydraulic seat post..... Playing it cool, I asked him to show me how it worked
Asked to take it for a spin around the car park which we were in, did a couple if laps. Then preceded at speed down the road and around the corner.... Really should have strava'd that...
My mate said there faces were a picture!
I called the police and told them were they were. I think they said they saw them walking off.
I didn't hang around after that
Depends on the local Old Bill I guess, South Wales Police claimed they'd be all over it - if I saw my bike advertised and I was certain it was mine they'd pose as buyers, we'd go down and if I was certain upon seeing it in the flesh they'd arrest to seller pending further enquiries - sadly it never turned up.
On the other side of things a friend bought a cheap hardtail from Cash Converters, rode it for a year and wanted something better, advertised it, first person to view clamped his hands on it and called the Police, they arrived quickly and seized the bike - friend had an invoice from Cash Coverters so was off the hook, the 'buyer' couldn't really prove it was his exact bike, a few of the unique identifiers for instenace he claimed he kept a few quid in loose change in the seat post weren't there - but of course could have been moved later on - either way the Police gave him the bike, and my friend got SFA from Chas Converters because the invoice didn't show the serial number or something - they really are just the acceptable face of criminal fencing.
On the other side of things a friend bought a cheap hardtail from Cash Converters, rode it for a year and wanted something better, advertised it, first person to view clamped his hands on it and called the Police, they arrived quickly and seized the bike - friend had an invoice from Cash Coverters so was off the hook, the 'buyer' couldn't really prove it was his exact bike, a few of the unique identifiers for instenace he claimed he kept a few quid in loose change in the seat post weren't there - but of course could have been moved later on - either way the Police gave him the bike, and my friend got SFA from Chas Converters because the invoice didn't show the serial number or something - they really are just the acceptable face of criminal fencing.
TwistingMyMelon said:
hman said:
ERR if you ask for a test ride aren't they going to ask you for the money first - so that you don't nick the bike?
ALl the second hand bikes I have purchased have let me sit on it, ride it round in front of them with no money first If your planning on sealing the bike back then you need to make sure you have a good idea of how your going to do it. Arrange where to meet you mate after you've done one with maybe a plan B. Checkout Google maps to plan a good escape route.
I'd say make sure you arrive to look at the bike alone (maybe tell them you came up on the train).
One thing though. You have to be absolutely 100% certain it's your bike!!
Is the bike terribly valuable?
I'd say make sure you arrive to look at the bike alone (maybe tell them you came up on the train).
One thing though. You have to be absolutely 100% certain it's your bike!!
Is the bike terribly valuable?
Engineer1 said:
A fly in the ointment is that the seller may think the bike is legitimately theirs (because good quality bikes get sold for fk all in pubs or similar all the time) so the police may be warey about doing anything.
Doesn't matter. The buyer of stolen goods isnt compensated if and when the are retrieved. k all in pubs or similar all the time) so the police may be warey about doing anything.Guys, thanks very much for all the replies and advice. I have been keeping track of them all day between working, but can't really reply while at work. Anyway, rather than go public right now just in case, the towrag is on PH, i'll add more soon. i am a little bit more positive at the moment anyway. So i'll keep my fingers crossed and not do anything too daft........... Just yet. 
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