General Cycling Discussion - I think the CL bike I bought is stolen

I found what I was looking for on Craigslist a few weeks ago. It is a 2008 GT Avalanche 2.0 in decent shape and I got it for $200. The ad was in a town about 100 miles from me, and I drove to pick the bike up. The deal went fine, and I thought all was well. Last week I was reading a message board and someone mentioned recording the serial number of your bike. Good idea, I thought. I turned my bike over, and it looked as if the SN has been filed off! (the underside of the BB) I felt sick. I never thought of checking the SN when buying a used bike. I have emailed the guy who sold it to me to question it (with no reply) and have also posted an ad in the area that I bought it looking for the owner.
I hope that the owner sees the ad.

If you buy a used bike, don't be a goober like me .... question the seller and check for that serial number.

"Felony possession of stolen property" is ALWAYS bad news. I'd check with the town-of-origin's police dept. Give them the story & ask if any bike fitting that description has been reported stolen. I'd also give the PD a heads-up on the seller (name & address) in case they want to follow up.

People don't file off serial numbers to save weight!

People don't file off serial numbers to save weight!

No, but it is a MTB, and if it's been really used as one scraping up the BB on rocks isn't all that uncommon. Without knowing the condition of the bike nor seeing the area I wouldn't just jump to conclusions. Is either possible? Sure.

-Roger

Just do not be to naive when going to the police department. One time I returned a woman handbag and right away the officer took it to the back office. When I was walking out a lady was entering the building stressed out about the lost bag, I remembered where the officer went and headed to the back office, open the door without knocking and there was the officer searching for money inside the bag...

Like others said, do not jump into conclusions, next thing you know the bike would belong to one of the officers.

Felony possession of stolen property, LOL! Dude, don't sweat it.

I had a lady who I SOLD her a bike, gave me her address cause some levers and bike extras where in another box and decided to send it later in the week. The package was returned, she never accepted it, called her like 10 times, people sometimes just want the cash and call it a day, nobody likes to be bothered.

You posted it on CL, check the local police department, after that put some miles to it. Keep a copy of the CL posting with the ID number, write down the name of the officer you talked to in case it turns out to be a stolen bike. If you steal have guilty conscience, then sell it to me, LOL.

Feel confident that you did everything you could. Doubt that the authorities care about 1 bike, if it is even stolen. Just keep good documentation of everything that happened and everyone you spoke to. Dates and times of day would not be overkill.
On my job there is an expression, "If it ain't in writing it never happened".
Enjoy the bike. You bought it in good faith.