Warning - Another way for thieves to steal from you..

Kinetic85

Click on the picture so you can read it:



As you can see, there is another way of thieves stealing bikes from your property. This is simply done by pretending to have interest, then going to the property to steal the bikes.

The best way to defeat this (without me giving away anything to these thieves) is by doing the following:

-Do not let someone go to your address to see the bike.

-Arrange a meeting time somewhere away from your home address (or anyone else's)

-Take someone with you (or a couple of people. The more the safer) and meet in a public place filled with members of the public, i.e town centre.

-Best place to meet if you live in a town or city is outside a police station for obvious reasons. And if you're legit, you have nothing to worry about. Even explain to the police why you are doing it.


This applies to everybody around the world too. Remember, this is a thieves other solution on getting bikes and can be used by any thief around the world.

If you have any tips, fell free to mention them too.

Hope you all take note of this!!

Gizmodo

From the legitimate buyer's perspective - if I was interested in a second hand high end bike that I'd seen advertised for sale, but when I phone up the seller wants to meet in a public place, not at their house, I would instantly think that the bike was stolen property.

There is no easy answer here. If you want to sell second hand goods to strangers, you have to show them the goods and to win the buyer's trust (because who wants to buy from a dodgy geezer) you need to do that at your home address really.

amaferanga

Gizmodo wrote:

From the legitimate buyer's perspective - if I was interested in a second hand high end bike that I'd seen advertised for sale, but when I phone up the seller wants to meet in a public place, not at their house, I would instantly think that the bike was stolen property.

+1

MountainMonster

I'm with Gismodo on this one, I also feel very uncomfortable meeting someone in a public place to buy something, not just because of the stolen items aspect, but also in the case I do get robbed somehow. Much easier to track someone down with the police who have robbed you when you have been at their house.

jordan_217

amaferanga wrote:

Gizmodo wrote:

From the legitimate buyer's perspective - if I was interested in a second hand high end bike that I'd seen advertised for sale, but when I phone up the seller wants to meet in a public place, not at their house, I would instantly think that the bike was stolen property.

+1

+1 - If I was buying something and the seller requested we met in a Tesco car park, I'd immediately think "I could just pop in to Teso afterwards and see if Malt loaf is still on special" and after that I'd think "Hmm, this sounds dodgy..."

I sold a MTB on here to another forum member in 2010. The first thing I done was check out his forum history to see if he seemed legit. If he had made zero posts and had just IM'd me stating his interest in the bike - I would of thought long and hard about giving him my home address to come and see the bike. Probably me being overly paranoid but sadly, that's the type of world we live in.

I hate thieving scrotes.........

petemadoc

"So, I'm interested in buying your bike can I come and see it?"

"Yes of course, but don't come to my house, I'll meet you under a disused railway bridge in the middle of the night and I won't tell you my name, address or telephone number. . . . oh yeah and it's cash only"

"okey dokey, sounds ok to me"

There's always going to be scumbags about who will go to any lengths to steal our hard earned stuff. They could follow you home after seeing you out on your bike FFS. Although you could combat this by cycling up a neighbours driveway and sneaking round the back to your own house :roll:

Use your common sense and your instincts. You can't really stop someone breaking into your house if they really want to.

rolf_f

An interesting one. All I can think of is asking for the prospective purchasers name and address and landline number first and then checking that out before handing your own details over.

PolyphonicBoy

Also worth remembering that not many people are going to buy your bike without a test ride. So you're going to need to trust someone to cycle off on your bike and come back again to pay you!

verylonglegs

I think you are better off considering more carefully how you secure your bikes at home, whether you are selling them or not.

Gazzetta67

Having previously sold a few bikes i always arrange to meet the buyer at a service station during the day

Last time i sold my Litespeed he handed me his car keys and cash and he got his cycle shoes on and cycled up and down the service station and then checked the frame out - Cash Counted Bike ok everybody happy.

diplodicus

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Having previously sold a few bikes i always arrange to meet the buyer at a service station during the day

Last time i sold my Litespeed he handed me his car keys and cash and he got his cycle shoes on and cycled up and down the service station and then checked the frame out - Cash Counted Bike ok everybody happy.

How many times have you sold your Litespeed?

tlw1

diplodicus wrote:

Gazzetta67 wrote:

Having previously sold a few bikes i always arrange to meet the buyer at a service station during the day

Last time i sold my Litespeed he handed me his car keys and cash and he got his cycle shoes on and cycled up and down the service station and then checked the frame out - Cash Counted Bike ok everybody happy.

How many times have you sold your Litespeed?

He bought a couple after selling the car, keeping the cash and claiming on his insurance for the 'stolen' bike.....

timmyturbo

I Agree with OP about bike thieves , for example buying cycling weekly or equivalent . Getting an address to hit as it were . My friend who used to be in the police said it has been a problem for many many years , so not a new criminal tactic .A lot of people i know keep their pride and joy in the house . Though this is not possible for some families with say 3 kids .

To be especially cautious , i would keep the bike in the house once advertised .

As for meeting outside a police station or a library , this is a really silly idea . Cheers Tim

DF33

There are a couple of things you can do.

Arrange to meet in a public place near your home for the buyer to view the bike, explain to buyer why you are doing this and say if you don't buy it no prob we go our separate ways, if you do buy it we go back to my house so you know It's not stolen, I'm genuine and complete the transaction.

Alternatively if you want them to come to your house directly as easier, again explain to the buyer why your doing it and ask them to agree to the following;
meet them on a corner etc very near your house (so you don't give them your exact address on the phone/forum etc) take them to yours, take a photo of them on your phone and note the details on their driving license. Not foolproof but enough to put off most knobbers. Most will think twice if they know their mugshot can be shown to the police.

Be aware of the car key thing in car parks if the bike is high value.

Old car nicking trick when someone is selling one - go and steal a car. Go with said car to view another one for sale, leave keys of stolen car with vendor whilst 'test driving' the car for sale, off into the sunset. Even better with a £3k bike as straight into the boot of a mates car round the corner and impossible to track as hidden.

dilemna

Mad, everyone knows there are never any police in police stations any more!

If a seller of a bicycle told me to meet them in some public place such as a petrol station, public park or supermarket car park I would immediately think the bike was knicked.

Why not ask a prospective buyer to bring ID ie driving licence, passport and a couple of ultility bills? If they refuse to do this then don't show them your bike or tell them where you live. Simples.

Check the buyer out. What level of cycling - newb, amateur, club member, MAMIL, Sportive junky or Pro. Ask a few obvious questions. If they appear to know bugger all about your expensive plastic bike or cycling in general it is obvious they shouldn't be trusted.

Borrow a beighbour's vicious dog and lock it in the down stairs toilet, kitchen or garage while you show the prospective buyer your bike ....................... They should get the message.