advice - nicked bike seen

nicchick
nicchick Posts: 49
edited August 2008 in Commuting chat
Was hoping someone would be able to offer advice......

Two months ago my friend got her very distinctive bike nicked (it was locked to a bike rack) she contacted the police blah blah but not much they could do.

Anyways, she saw a bloke riding the other day - with the same mud guards and everything on it. Apparently the guy looked respectable and was with his kids so she doesnt think he was the one who nicked it. Seeing as she is very very pregnant at the moment she didnt stop him/follow him. But as we live in a small city its likely that one of our friends may see the bike again.

Whats the best thing to do? Follow the man home and contact the police, or stop him and ask where he got the bike from? Also what are the chances of her getting the bike back? Whilst she can prove she bought it Im pretty sure its not stamped/coded.

Ta very much :) nic

Comments

  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    It should be stamped, all bikes sold in the UK should have the frame number stamped or stuck to the bottom of the bottom bracket. Try and find where the bloke lives and get the cops involved. How can your friend prove that it is her bike though, hard to do beyond doubt if she does not have the frame number.

    I highly recommend registering all the bikes (and indeed phones etc) on the immobilise website - http://www.immobilise.com/ My bikes are all saved on here complete with frame numbers and photo's so if they are stolen the police have some info to check against should they ever be recovered or I find myself in a similar situation to your friend!
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    follow him home, make sure he actually lives there, then contact the police.
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  • Littigator
    Littigator Posts: 1,262
    Most stolen bikes are sold on Brick Lane. This guy probably bought it from there aif he didn't look like a bike thief although given the prices are often very cheaop you'd have to be a complete idiot not to know they're stolen.

    A member of my cycling club had his very distinctive bike stolen from Soho recently. He posted on our club forum for people to look out for it and would you believe someone spotted it chained to some railings in Charlotte Street.

    Together they bought a set of electric bolt cutters, plugged them into the shop nearby (obliging shopkeeper) and set to work cutting the lock off. The guy who had locked it there came along and they explained it was my mates stolen bike and they were taking it back. The guy admitted that when he bought it he knew it was very very cheap so wasn't really surprised it was stolen. He didn't in any way stop them from taking it back.

    Another member actually went along to Brick Lane after his bike was stolen and simply took it back off the guy who was offering it for sale.

    None of the above to be recommended action for a pregnant lady but if she has a couple of big mates they might oblige.
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  • nicchick
    nicchick Posts: 49
    We live in Exeter, so a bit far away from London :) I can imagine it was probably sold very cheap at a car boot sale or equivilant. We did keep an eye on e bay but it didnt appear there.

    Im not sure if she made a note of the frame number or not, I will ask - If she has the receipts and manual and things would it be with that stuff?

    Littigator - well her fella isnt small and he would have no problems with nicking the bike back if needed, but I guess probs better to let the police know first!

    nic
  • ris
    ris Posts: 392
    if she has the original documentation that came with the bike there is a chance it will have the frame number in there somewhere, the bike i bought a couple of years ago did.

    if she contacted the police in the first instance then they should have a record of the description given, with any luck it will match the bike seen riden around. any other disctinctive bits that wouldn't be easy to know about would also strengthen her case.
  • Max_Man
    Max_Man Posts: 185
    When I had a bike stolen I contacted the LBS I got it from and they told me the frame number, when they sell bikes they put all this info onto their computer system.

    Might be an idea if she has no idea of the frame number.
  • woodford2barbican
    woodford2barbican Posts: 1,505
    nicchick wrote:
    We live in Exeter, so a bit far away from London :)
    nic

    Youu don't live in London? But London is the centre of the universe!
  • nicchick
    nicchick Posts: 49
    Nope, dont live in the centre of the universe, however, I do live very close to lots of beaches and some brilliant moors for mountain biking :D

    It does mean when you get your bike nicked you are likely find it again as the city is so small!

    Plus, from the sounds of it my commute to work is a bit less dangerous than most of the people on here :wink: although I do get my fair share of numptys

    nic

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