How to check the second hand bike is not stolen?

bikeboon

Hi, going for a second hand _folding_ commuting bike. The asking price is a bit too low, and I've no means to verify the ownership or the story (someone has moved). But then, on the other hand it's a folding bike, you don't see those often attached to street furniture.

Could be just me hyping up, and the bike could be a genuine one, but then, firstly, don't want to know I own a stolen bike, and secondly, what are the risks and repercussions for owning a bike that was stolen (I don't know that, do I?)

Any advice would be appreciated...

bikeboon

PS Ran the model through http://www.bikerevolution.org/stolen-bikes.html - no results in my area.

cooldad

There's no way to check.
If it's stolen the worst that would happen, on the off chance it was traced, is it would go back to it's original owner.

mattsaw

Also insist on meeting the seller at their home address and make sure you get ID and a receipt.

As others have said there's no way of being 100% sure unless they have the original receipt, but by ensuring there is a paper trail then it'll cover your back and will lead back to the culprit.

pmorgan1

Mattsaw wrote:

Also insist on meeting the seller at their home address and make sure you get ID and a receipt.

As others have said there's no way of being 100% sure unless they have the original receipt, but by ensuring there is a paper trail then it'll cover your back and will lead back to the culprit.

Cheers.

g00se

You could have a chat with the seller and get a feeling as to if they've used it - niggles, how it rides etc.

saladdays

If you buy it and think it's stolen why not contact the police to clear your concience? Guiltfree riding!

walkingbootweather

I've bought a couple of bikes off ebay. Each time I have visited and viewed prior to bidding, partly to assess fit and condition, but largely just to chat with the seller. If they haven't got a plausable story to tell about how they came to have the bike and why they are getting rid I'd walk away. In my experience, genuine sellers are happy to volunteer lots of additional information such as why they choose that model over another, trips they had been on, scalps they had taken etc.

Andrew N

I completely agree with walkingbootweather's suggestions...

...asking sellers lots of questions, meeting them in person, checking bike registers to make sure the bike hasn't been reported as stolen, seeing plenty of photos of the bike, looking at their trading history should do enough to raise or dispel any suspicions.

If you have any doubt as the to legitimacy of the bikes then don't buy it! The police have told me that they are happy to go after people who buy stolen bikes!

deptfordmarmoset

If you're really doubtful about the bike, you could try http://www.checkmend.com/uk/ for £1.99. (I got linked to from the Immobilise people, who the police were using at a local bike fair a couple of years ago.)

Cleat Eastwood

never buy it off a scouser.

mudcow007

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

never buy it off a scouser.

why is that?