Found what I think is a stolen bike - ideas?
Discussion
So, I've found a fairly nice bike that's been left since the weekend behind the bins in my alleyway. Guesses are it's stolen and I know if it was mine, I'd like to think there was someone decent enough to try and return it.
But, returning what might be a nice bike to it's owner is proving quite difficult. The police don't want anything to do with it and the council are sending me in circles. The police sent me to a website with no actual way of listing found items, only paying a fiver to submit a stolen item report and I'm not getting much in the way of info from Council, who they also said to phone.
It's a lovely bike and obviously I've had thoughts about keeping it if it was unclaimed but know it's not mine. I just want to make sure I've done everything I can to return it, one for my conscience and two so that it doesn't come back to bite me in the arse.
I don't really fancy knocking on everyone's doors on this and the next street but no idea what else to do.
Any ideas?
Yes, I know you'll take it off my hands for £20.
But, returning what might be a nice bike to it's owner is proving quite difficult. The police don't want anything to do with it and the council are sending me in circles. The police sent me to a website with no actual way of listing found items, only paying a fiver to submit a stolen item report and I'm not getting much in the way of info from Council, who they also said to phone.
It's a lovely bike and obviously I've had thoughts about keeping it if it was unclaimed but know it's not mine. I just want to make sure I've done everything I can to return it, one for my conscience and two so that it doesn't come back to bite me in the arse.
I don't really fancy knocking on everyone's doors on this and the next street but no idea what else to do.
Any ideas?
Yes, I know you'll take it off my hands for £20.
When I've had my bikes marked by the cops on various cycle register schemes, they told me finding nicked bikes is not the problem, reuniting them with owners is since the vast majority either don't bother to register them or just write it off once it's nicked.
If it were me, I'd maybe post it on FB or Twitter & ask anyone claiming it to prove it's theirs by identifying a unique feature on it. Dent, scratch, whatever. Failing that, give it to a charity - loads of bike refurb charities about who'd gladly take it off your hands.
If it were me, I'd maybe post it on FB or Twitter & ask anyone claiming it to prove it's theirs by identifying a unique feature on it. Dent, scratch, whatever. Failing that, give it to a charity - loads of bike refurb charities about who'd gladly take it off your hands.
If it's a nice bike that has definitely been stolen, there's a good chance the owner is scouring Gumtree waiting for it to show up for sale. You could put an ad on Guntree, saying you've found a bike, believed stolen and if the owner can prove ownership they can come and collect?
Or put some flyers up around the local area. Or just take it to your local police station, wheel it in, and leave it there.
Or put some flyers up around the local area. Or just take it to your local police station, wheel it in, and leave it there.
Check if it's been put on here https://www.bikeregister.com/bike-checker and/or https://checkthatbike.co.uk/ and/or http://www.bikeshepherd.org/
You might find an owner that way.
To be fair, I've told Plod about nicked bikes I've found a few times, on 101, and they've come round to pick them up from my house.
You might find an owner that way.
To be fair, I've told Plod about nicked bikes I've found a few times, on 101, and they've come round to pick them up from my house.
Alex@POD said:
My bike is on the register (required for cycle to work), and it can be identified by a serial number under the bottom bracket. Nothing like that on this one?
bigandclever said:
Check if it's been put on here https://www.bikeregister.com/bike-checker and/or https://checkthatbike.co.uk/ and/or http://www.bikeshepherd.org/
You might find an owner that way.
To be fair, I've told Plod about nicked bikes I've found a few times, on 101, and they've come round to pick them up from my house.
Nothing on it that I can see. There was a white sticker with code on on the underside but a quick Google turns up that it's the item code. It's worth about £6-700 new, which I guess isn't astronomical but still not cheap. You might find an owner that way.
To be fair, I've told Plod about nicked bikes I've found a few times, on 101, and they've come round to pick them up from my house.
Alapeno said:
Nothing on it that I can see. There was a white sticker with code on on the underside but a quick Google turns up that it's the item code. It's worth about £6-700 new, which I guess isn't astronomical but still not cheap.
What bike is it and where are you - third time of asking - reason for asking is that I may well be able to help!FD3Si said:
Dizeee said:
What bike is it and where are you - third time of asking - reason for asking is that I may well be able to help!
Doesn't really take a genius to figure out why he's not answering that, surely? Leave out the colours and anything specifc. And no pics.
You can then judge whether the person calling is genuine by asking them. What gears, what colour grips. etc
Alapeno said:
Been a busy couple of days, I did mean to reply with a less than totally vague answer.
Yes, it's a Specialized and in South Manchester.
If it's a road bike, try and get in contact with Didsbury or Chorlton Velo.Yes, it's a Specialized and in South Manchester.
Depends where and what you consider is south manchester tho :-)
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