Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Found my stolen bike. Now what?

Hey guys, I'm looking for advice or maybe justification for some action.

About 6 months ago my girlfriend’s bike was stolen from her place of work. Cut cable, bike gone. The bike is very unique. It’s designed for her, has unusual sized wheels, lots of custom bits, and one very distinguishing feature – a bike shop sticker from the shop I purchased it at, my buddy’s shop in another state, 700 miles from here. There’s no question in my mind that this is her bike. ZERO. It looks like ****, has been sitting out in the weather for what looks like months and some full-grown ape is riding it as the seatpost is at full extension. It's a miniature bike designed for a girl, and some ****wad man is riding it. Sweet.

I know where the bike lives. I’ve cased it out and it’s parked at the same place every day.

Here’s the problem: I never registered it. I have a proof of purchase but I’m not sure if that will do the trick. What cop cares enough about such an inconsequential crime to take the time to see that the serial number listed on my proof of purchase is the same as the serial number on the bike. Is there anything legitimate I can do to get this bike back and make my girlfriend the happiest little person on earth again ‘cause she got her favorite little custom-built-just-for-her bike back? I will get the bike back one way or another, but I’d prefer to follow the path of righteousness in doing so if at all possible.

Oh, and I never reported it stolen because the last bike that I had stolen from me, a $5500 Ti frame Eddy Merckx with Record, was never recovered, the detective "assigned" to the case seemed annoyed when I asked about it and I'm certain the file was just thrown in a file cabinet and forgotten about. Nobody died, it was an inconvenience for nobody but me, I understand and can hardly blame them. Cops aren't paid enough to pretend like they care.

Contact the cops. Maybe they'd like to solve some crime, inconsequential or not. Cops love busting people.

Maybe you have a pic of your girlfreind with the bike or something to use as evidence?

If you have a proof of purchase with serial number, it seems like you have this butt orifice dead to rights. Go talk to a nice policeman and have him/her check it out, I'm sure your evidence will go a long way towards swaying their opinion.

Go put yor lock on it and call the police.

I dunno, but I'd be thinking of all kinds of creative ways and things to do to this guy. I'd probabaly take measures into my own hands, but that's just me.

if you lived in a smaller town I'd be more confident of your chances going the "legal" way, but you might as well start there.

you say the bike is locked always at the same place every day. how is it locked? take a few friends with you, your proof that the bike is yours, and go liberate the bike. leave a note where the bike was. there's a small chance the current owner is not the thief.

Time out duderzzzz.............its been six months, what proof is there that the person who currently has the bike in there possesion is the one who took it?

Receiving stolen goods is a crime. Boofu(kinghoo if the new "owner" didn't know.

Bring your own lock, lock it up, then start working on cutting the other lock. If questioned, tell them you lost your key. I would "steal" it back in a heartbeat. The current "owner" cannot prove it is his. While you are messing with it, write down the serial number as proof.

You sure there are no photos of it in her or your possession?

Police will not help unless you have some definite proof of ownership.

Receiving stolen goods is a crime. Boofu(kinghoo if the new "owner" didn't know.

Boofu kinghoo? Is that Japanese?

The chain they're using to lock it is PATHETIC. One of those ridiculous baby chains with green plastic coating that non-bike people buy at k-mart. I'm almost convinced I can crack it by hand.

Just a thought. I'd make sure I had the proof of purchase in my pocket.

I've got pics of my gf w/ the bike. That thing's coming back to the homestead.

I agree with Cynikal - lock it up and call the police.
-Don't sit here reading posts...GO LOCK IT UP!!

If police get involved and you're willing to put some effort into it, you guys can probably get reimbursed for the damage that it has accumulated. If it's not too serious and just needs an overhaul, I'd say just take it back.

normally i'd never advise someone to break the law, but in this case, i'd take a day to follow the guy around, when he leaves it in a public place, steal it back.

or go to the cops.

I know where he lives, my buddy lives in the same apartment complex and confirmed that the bike's always out there locked to the same post.

I'll get up early as **** one morning, take my trusty bolt cutters and take it back. I'll keep a copy of the receipt in my pocket in case the cops roll by.

Good stuff. My GF is going to be very happy. It'll be a fun project to restore it back to health.

Option #1- Steal the bike bike
Result: Your girl gets her bike back

Option #2- Notify the cops.You have proof of ownership by way of serial numbers, right?
Result: Your girl gets her bike back, and as a bonus -- scumbag gets some heat from the boys in blue.

If the cops don't want to play, revert to option #1.

Don't put the beat-down on the guy though, he may have bought the bike for $20 from some other loser.

Be sure to let us know the outcome of all this!

I will. I just called my buddy the bike shop owner to see if he can email me a scanned copy of the sales invoice so I can stop by and pick up the bike on my way home from work haha. I've got a HUGE NY chain/lock set. I think I'm going to stop by and lock it up with that tonight at least just to F with the guy

Don't **** with him too much. He might **** up the ride out of spite. Just be clean and quick. In and out, like a teenage boy's first trip down the love tunnel, except with less humiliation. When you take it back, tape a note to the pole telling the guy he's a turd.

note should be written on a photo print out of a ****** pictures. thats my imo4u


edit: or lemonparty

DON'T lock it up overnight. The guy will probably bust up the bike just to be a dick, or cut your lock and move the bike. There's almost no chance he'll just let it go. Just liberate the bike and be done with it.

Oh, and do some more detective work. Find out which apartment the dude lives in. Pee on his door handle.

DON'T lock it up overnight. The guy will probably bust up the bike just to be a dick, or cut your lock and move the bike. There's almost no chance he'll just let it go. Just liberate the bike and be done with it.


good point. I'll simply repo it. :)

As much as I think dealing with the police is a pain in the ass I think you should do so. I'm not criminal justice expert but I'm sure "stealing it back" is illegal for some silly reason.

/me avoids illegal ****

Yeas, don't get caught in the act if you do steal it back. The justice system does not like vigilantes (something about you taking away their power).

I honestly would get the police involved:
a-If he is a thief who is to say that he won't try to fark you up if he catches you (crime can sometimes be quite a slippery slope for people)

b-If he is not the guy that stole it, but just bought it off some crackhead for $20 then I don't find it fair to screw him over too. I am over thinking this, but what if he uses it to get to and from work and in the morning he is late and gets fired (sorry, my heart bleeds a little).

Just remember that two wrongs do not make a right (god I sound like my dad).

Go to his apartment, shoot him, ransack his apartment until you find the key, and then liberate the bike. U-lock justice!!!!

**** that noise. Steal the bike back.

The cops probably can't bust the dude for anything since it's unlikely that you can prove he is the one who stole it. They might not even be willing to help you get it back since you didn't register it. Chances are the dude that's riding it didn't steal it, he probably bought it from the thief. If I stole a bike I wouldn't ride around on it without painting it first.

**** that noise. Steal the bike back.

The cops probably can't bust the dude for anything since it's unlikely that you can prove he is the one who stole it. They might not even be willing to help you get it back since you didn't register it. Chances are the dude that's riding it didn't steal it, he probably bought it from the thief. If I stole a bike I wouldn't ride around on it without painting it first.

yah.. I been staying down in miami beach and i stole this little bike and am riding it around, but it is way too small for me. I'm kinda dumb for not painting it and leaving it parked in the same spot each night.

It may be worth sitting near where the bicycle is locked up for a day or two, seeing if it gets used, identifying the person who uses it (If it ever gets used at all), and figuring out where they live. Try to get photographic evidence of the person locking/unlocking the thing. Then you can either.

a.) steal the bike back

b.) follow the person to their domicile and make a scene or violent scene, questioning them and perhaps, if the person admits that they stole the bicycle, exacting some form of physical violence and/or theft representing the amount of physical labor you put into purchasing and building said bicycle, the value of which has since been removed from said bicycle by its mistreatment.

c.) call the police report the location of the bike and description of the current "owner". be ready to present your receipt, have your friend's shop phone number, email, and address to corroborate your receipt, have pictures of your girlfriend on the bike in the past, and any other photographs, and try to have photographic evidence of the person touching/locking/unlocking the bicycle

I would be shocked if the police made anything easy about this. It was never reported stolen. Someone else already has possession. Suddenly this becomes a civil rather than a criminal matter-- and the police have no jurisdiction.

It doesn't hurt to ask--- but on the other hand, is it illegal to take your own property? I think not. If you are caught, the court will sort it all out. I question whether the person in possession right now would even file charges, given the circumstances--- and the state would not file on his behalf for such a petty crime. I would just take what is yours.


As much as I think dealing with the police is a pain in the ass I think you should do so. I'm not criminal justice expert but I'm sure "stealing it back" is illegal for some silly reason.

/me avoids illegal ****

i'd be concerned that the dude might show up while you're stealing it back. if that happened, it'd be good to have a cop around to make sure he doesn't beat the everloving crap out if you. early in the morning is a good idea, but you never know. plus, i tend to agree with 9rings in that cops will seize on any opportunity to bust someone.

I would be shocked if the police made anything easy about this. It was never reported stolen. Someone else already has possession. Suddenly this becomes a civil rather than a criminal matter-- and the police have no jurisdiction.

It doesn't hurt to ask--- but on the other hand, is it illegal to take your own property? I think not. If you are caught, the court will sort it all out. I question whether the person in possession right now would even file charges, given the circumstances--- and the state would not file on his behalf for such a petty crime. I would just take what is yours.that's a really interesting point. if it was never reported stolen, then having the proof of purchase doesn't do much good. someone could sell a bike, keep the proof of purchase, and then rip off the buyer by having the cops take it back. good luck swiping it back, but be careful and maybe take some friends with you or something.

If you're really worried about it bring 4 friends in case it gets ugly and leave a note telling them you are taking it back and if they have any questions about it to call the shop where you bought it. Seriously, calling the cops will do nothing but complicate matters. You don't have proof that the person who has it now is the one who stole it and you don't have very good evidence that it was stolen from you in the first place. All you have is proof that you owned it at some time in the past and that somebody else has it now. Not exactly a water tight case is it?

Edit: yeah, fischer. That's what I'm trying to say. I type too slow. :)

Talk to the cops first, if they say it isn't under their jurisdiction, then it faklls under YOUR jurisdiction.

A cop wouldn't want to do something if you said "my bike got stolen, can you find it?"

A cop would love to bust someone if you said "my bike got stolen, I have the purchase reciept, and I also have found the bike and the dude who currently has it."

The cop will grab his stun gun, handcuffs, a couple of buddies and say "let's roll!"

EDIT: This will be particularly effective if your girlfriend accompanies you to the station, the cops will be full of macho pride.

I'd probably put my lock on it, bring a mace, and a can of mace and wait for him to come out and be like "why the fukk is there someone else's lock on my bike?" Then I'd mace him (spray one) and shake him up a little then run him for everything down to his shoes.

I for one wouldn't let my GF ride the bike after all this. Imagine this scenario:

1) Bike stolen
2) Bike sold to this current guy who thinks he owns it legitimately
3) You steal it and give it to GF
4) This guy sees her riding it, stops her, beats her teeth out and takes it back because he thinks she stole it.

You are assuming and risking too much. If you were going to be riding it I'd say do what you like, but in this case you are risking your girl.

I for one wouldn't let my GF ride the bike after all this. Imagine this scenario:

1) Bike stolen
2) Bike sold to this current guy who thinks he owns it legitimately
3) You steal it and give it to GF
4) This guy sees her riding it, stops her, beats her teeth out and takes it back because he thinks she stole it.

You are assuming and risking too much. If you were going to be riding it I'd say do what you like, but in this case you are risking your girl.

THANK YOU

someone else is seeing it the way I do. Way too much to risk to be macho yourself. Try the cops first. If they won't help then go vigilante, but be slick about it. I am not telling you to be a *****; just be smart.

**** the cops, they don't give a **** about you if you don't have a bribe or donuts. unless you're a minority, then they'll harass/kick the **** out of you.

just follow the "teenage boy's first trip in the love tunnel" advice. in and out. get it and go. take friends if you want, if there's confrontation, ****ing tell him it's yours. don't waste time fumbling in pockets for proof of serial numbers, there's too much opportunity there for some dude to try and jack you, even with friends there. just tell him to shove it, it's yours, and if he's not the thief, sorry, but tough luck for him. it's still yours because you never gave it up. then go away. friends are essential if only for an intimidation factor, even if there's no need for anyone to throw down. but if there is, it's gotta happen. you want this bike back, right?

but if you're in and out, there ought not to be confrontation.

I for one wouldn't let my GF ride the bike after all this. Imagine this scenario:

1) Bike stolen
2) Bike sold to this current guy who thinks he owns it legitimately
3) You steal it and give it to GF
4) This guy sees her riding it, stops her, beats her teeth out and takes it back because he thinks she stole it.

You are assuming and risking too much. If you were going to be riding it I'd say do what you like, but in this case you are risking your girl.

reminds me of a repo'd bike i once rode. it was a simple matter of a paint job and just keeping an eye out. no trouble whatsoever.

when my trek mtn bike was stolen on campus, i saw some kid riding it...i pushed him off and stole it back. get ur bike back bro! !!!!!!

I for one wouldn't let my GF ride the bike after all this. Imagine this scenario:

1) Bike stolen
2) Bike sold to this current guy who thinks he owns it legitimately
3) You steal it and give it to GF
4) This guy sees her riding it, stops her, beats her teeth out and takes it back because he thinks she stole it.

You are assuming and risking too much. If you were going to be riding it I'd say do what you like, but in this case you are risking your girl.

Like a said, leave a note telling the current "owner" to contact the shop where it was purchased. (or yourself if you prefer, but I woudn't give out personal information) Let the shop know what you are doing and if they're cool they'll help with providing info to anyone who calls.

maybe i'm all wrong, but i'm imagining a ghetto situation where the legitimate route is the least likely to get results, if the cops even touch the case.

diy justice. there's no justice, it's just us. as the saying goes. maybe i have the situation wrong, maybe it's some white neighborhood where the cops will show up and give a damn, but i'm saying you've gotta do it yourself to get anything done.

quit being a fukcing puss.y and go steal it back.

Nobody died, it was an inconvenience for nobody but me, I understand and can hardly blame them. Cops aren't paid enough to pretend like they care.
Hilarious that you can't blame a cop for not looking into stolen property because it's only an inconvenience for one person. Not that I expect them to do anything either, but at least I'm not condoning it.

.. just lock it up with your lock.. lock it real good.. leave a note.. or wait for the person to come back.. tell them you had a bike stolen that looks just like that bike and you want proof it's theirs..and let them know you have proof.. tell them right away if they get crazy that you will call the police for both of you..and your serious about sorting this out.. infact.. bring friends if your going to wait.. just be friendly and firm.. tell them your sorry for all of this.. but this bike means soooooo much to you.... most people who buy nice things like second hand wonder if it's stolen ya know? if they then still get violent just set them on fire.. mafia.. start out real nice and then blam!!!!! thats what i would do anyway

i cannot be held responsible for my words as everthing i do and say is fiction and a bad idea

-b

I say find a BIKE COP, if possible. Then go and claim it.

If you're really worried about it bring 4 friends in case it gets ugly and leave a note telling them you are taking it back and if they have any questions about it to call the shop where you bought it. Seriously, calling the cops will do nothing but complicate matters. You don't have proof that the person who has it now is the one who stole it and you don't have very good evidence that it was stolen from you in the first place. All you have is proof that you owned it at some time in the past and that somebody else has it now. Not exactly a water tight case is it?

Edit: yeah, fischer. That's what I'm trying to say. I type too slow. :)

Are you or are you not a ****ing moderator?

The course of action is to call the police first. Put your lock on the bike if you wish, but if you have the receipt with serial, you have all the proof you need. It's very possible that the current owner doesn't even know anything about the bike being stolen, but if it is, he will have to give it up. Call the police first. If they don't do anything about it, THEN I would say go ahead and steal it back. I'd rather get it back the 100% legal way and possibly get reimbursed for damages or see the crackhead go to jail.

Here's a flip on the scenario. Say you steal the bike back and the guy who had it bought it second hand from the thief, not even knowing it was stolen. So, then he sees YOUR girl riding it later and who knows what might happen.

I seriously can't believe that even the mods in this subforum are idiots.