Found stolen bike on gumtree HELP update:BIKE RECOVERED

IfeelSick

Hi all, I just found my bike on gumtree and other bikes probably stolen from other people. What do i do?

I have no proof it is even mine. No photo of me with the bike.

pilot_pete

Firstly inform the police, but you stand little chance of getting a bike back if you can't prove it is yours...

PP

keef66

IfeelSick wrote:

Hi all, I just found my bike on gumtree and other bikes probably stolen from other people. What do i do?

I have no proof it is even mine. No photo of me with the bike.

Contact the police? They may be interested and could be able to trace some of the others back to their owners.

However I was in the same position when my MTB was nicked and the frame appeared on Ebay within days; I didn't know the frame number and no photographic evidence, so I never bothered. It was 10 years old by then, and I certainly wasn't going to pitch up in Moss Side and try to reclaim it.

IfeelSick

Can i try and steal it back? The photo of the bike look dodgy. They have used sheets around the bike to hide the room from being indentified.

sungod

i had the same experience a few years ago - multiple bikes, including mine, for sale by a range of claimed names, every ad had the same payg mobile number

police were not interested
gumtree refused to even take down the ads, it seems happy to help fence stolen goods
mine was already sold

you can pretend to be a buyer, but i'd be wary of going alone into a situation where you'll be dealing with an unknown number of criminals

supermurph09

IfeelSick wrote:

Can i try and steal it back? The photo of the bike look dodgy. They have used sheets around the bike to hide the room from being indentified.

If I absolutely knew that was my bike, I'd be turning up mob handed.

IfeelSick

The bike is a crappy looking bike but it's not the point. The fact that some **** is selling it in front of my eyes is torturing me. My wife says its too dangerous. Maybe i should just leave it. I'm confused.

They moved it 9 miles away

dinyull

Contact the police asap.

Do you have a receipt from when you bought it, or email confirmation when ordered? Also, would you not be able to explain to police what mods you've made - i.e. pedals, bottle cages, bar tape etc.

apreading

Is it insured? If so then easier to just take the money and try to let it go.

I took my bike back a few years ago when it was stolen from my work and I saw it a week later being ridden by some scrote - followed them back to a one way street I couldnt go down, circled the block and they didnt come out the other end, so went in on foot to look around. Saw someone coming out of a cul-de-sac carrying a bike wheel and thought that looked suspicious so went down there and saw some youths hanging around a house with a bunch of bikes leaning on the wall, behind the wheelie bins. First bike in the pile was mine so I reached around, grabbed it, jumped on and rode off like the wind. They shouted after me and I just shouted back that it was my bike and I was having it back - to which they replied that they didnt steal it, they 'found' it lying around...

I should never have done that, but on the spur of the moment I did.

It was insured, although I wouldnt have got the full value but more than that it just kept playing on my mind and everyone I saw on a bike, I looked closer in case it was mine - I dont think I would have got over it mentally very easily, just the wondering and the feeling of violation.

Its easier said than done, but if it was a crappy bike and not too hard to replace then the wise choice would be to let it go.

If you do decide to take action then just be very careful and dont do it alone.

veronese68

As you can't prove it's yours I'd pretend to be a buyer and arrange to go and see it. If possible take your biggest mate with you. Or mates but don't all turn up at once, keep a few back but within sight. Tell the buyer the bike is yours and you've called the police thus giving him a chance to hand the bike over and back off. If he doesn't you either go ahead and call the police or back off yourself. Be prepared for it to get ugly though, but obviously try to avoid trouble if you can.
Can you do anything to show the bike is yours? Lights or lock that fit brackets on the bike, shoes that fit pedals, anything that narrows it down.

lakesluddite

http://road.cc/content/news/195809-man- ... -operation

IfeelSick

Hi all, the guy just called me and said i could pick it up. He sounded very sorry that he bought my stolen bike for £50. I am going to pick it up now from ilford.

BE AWARE LEAVING YOUR BIKE INSIDE A BLUE SECURITY DOOR IN LONDON AS THESE THEIFS MUST HAVE A FIREMANS KEY TO GET IN.

Man Of Lard

Given that sets of such keys are widely available for less than a tenner is that really a surprise?

webboo

IfeelSick wrote:

Hi all, the guy just called me and said i could pick it up. He sounded very sorry that he bought my stolen bike for £50. I am going to pick it up now from ilford.

BE AWARE LEAVING YOUR BIKE INSIDE A BLUE SECURITY DOOR IN LONDON AS THESE THEIFS MUST HAVE A FIREMANS KEY TO GET IN.

While you are out picking your bike up, he comes round with his fireman's key and robs your house.

IfeelSick

Hi all, I am home now with the stolen bike. The seller said he bought it from someone down Ilford market. He said he buys and sells bikes. He seemed happy enough to give it back so i will give him the benfit of the doubt and say that he didn't know it was stolen. The thief moved the bike all the make from Hackney to Ilford.

My wife just found out the family below had there bike nicked a while ago and didn't say anything.

What a complete scumbag whoever you are!

Thanks everyone for your replys.

IfeelSick

Webboo wrote:

IfeelSick wrote:

Hi all, the guy just called me and said i could pick it up. He sounded very sorry that he bought my stolen bike for £50. I am going to pick it up now from ilford.

BE AWARE LEAVING YOUR BIKE INSIDE A BLUE SECURITY DOOR IN LONDON AS THESE THEIFS MUST HAVE A FIREMANS KEY TO GET IN.

While you are out picking your bike up, he comes round with his fireman's key and robs your house.

I just came back and my tv's missing

IfeelSick

Man Of Lard wrote:

Given that sets of such keys are widely available for less than a tenner is that really a surprise?

I was suprised. Thanks for the info. Found them on amazon for £4.75 plus free delivery

StillGoing

IfeelSick wrote:

Hi all, I am home now with the stolen bike. The seller said he bought it from someone down Ilford market. He said he buys and sells bikes. He seemed happy enough to give it back so i will give him the benfit of the doubt and say that he didn't know it was stolen. The thief moved the bike all the make from Hackney to Ilford.

My wife just found out the family below had there bike nicked a while ago and didn't say anything.

What a complete scumbag whoever you are!

Thanks everyone for your replys.

He's handling stolen goods. Unless he paid a realistic price i.e. value for good received, he commits the offence. Inform the local police, letting them know you've got the bike back. He can then produce his receipt and identify which trader at the market he bought it from. If he doesn't, he gets prosecuted. If he does, the trader answers some questions. Just letting it go allows the thief to continue his activities.