Claiming an abandoned bike

tomlockbart

Evening all

There's a nice bike that's been locked in the same place for a few weeks near me and doesn't look touched. The chain is off and it might well be abandoned. Does anyone know if London boroughs will let you claim a bike if you report it? Even better has anyone actually done this and got to keep the bike?

I've done some googling and Richmond will claim abandoned bikes but doesnt mention anything about keeping them

EDIT: I don't live in Richmond, but they were the only council with any details on their website

Ta!

The_JML

....boltcutters.....balaclava......quicker than posting this thread.....

smidsy

If you report a bike found dumped (presumably after being stolen) and the police can not find an owner it is yours after 28 days.

Yossie

smidsy wrote:

If you report a bike found dumped (presumably after being stolen) and the police can not find an owner it is yours after 28 days.

As its achined up I would suggest that its not been stolen and dumped.

As it has no chain on it and is a nice bike, I would suggest that the chain is broken and the owner has chained it up so it is still there for when he gets around to getting a new chain and may not be happy if someone tries to claim his bike as dumped.

I would say that the best thing to do in this case is to leave a letter on the bike asking if he wants to sell it and leave an email address as a contact detail - if the letter is stil on the bike in the same place a few weeks down the line then have a words with Babylon.

Re bolt cutters etc - yeah, that's a brilliant idea - lets all get a theft conviction over a rusty bike. And probably a good kicking if we get caught by the owner doing it. Not to mention destroying all cyclist's karma, ever. And if your mates are anything like mine, if they know you;ve been nicking bikes they'll never speak to you again. Great idea that one.