what to do when your stolen bike shows up on CL?
04-06-12, 04:32 PM
#1
Ride for Life
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,740
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
what to do when your stolen bike shows up on CL?
so this isn't exclusively related to C&V, but i trust the wisdom of this forum and most of us have bikes that we did not buy new, or built up ourselves, and therefore have no receipt for.
my friend's bike was stolen a few days ago (an old steel "Stella"). now it is posted on CL. what is the best way to go about retrieving the bike? without a receipt or having registered it with the police, i question how much they would get involved since it's really just one person's word vs another.
suggestions? experiences?
my friend's bike was stolen a few days ago (an old steel "Stella"). now it is posted on CL. what is the best way to go about retrieving the bike? without a receipt or having registered it with the police, i question how much they would get involved since it's really just one person's word vs another.
suggestions? experiences?
04-06-12, 04:40 PM
#2
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,492 Posts
Does he have pictures of it? If he has a pic of the bike in the livingroom or him standing with that may help. Any chance (and I am very guilty of neglecting this) he has the serial number recorded? BITD we used to write our name and address on a slip of paper and drop it down the seat tube. that can be rather convincing in from a guy with a badge and gun!
If he thinks he can prove it is his call the Police do not attempt to retieve it alone.
If he thinks he can prove it is his call the Police do not attempt to retieve it alone.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
04-06-12, 04:47 PM
#3
Banned.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 27,199
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 1,410 Times
in
910 Posts
We've debated this here a lot.
Without proof it's yours, you have two options: go buy it back, or go take it back (refuse) to pay.
Unless you know the seller actually stole it, you could get in trouble, and you just may be stealing it yourself.
Without the police involved, you'd better have evidence it was your friend's before you go take it.
I think the last one we debated ended with a minimal payment and everyone happy and safe.
Not as much fun, but probably the best outcome.
Without proof it's yours, you have two options: go buy it back, or go take it back (refuse) to pay.
Unless you know the seller actually stole it, you could get in trouble, and you just may be stealing it yourself.
Without the police involved, you'd better have evidence it was your friend's before you go take it.
I think the last one we debated ended with a minimal payment and everyone happy and safe.
Not as much fun, but probably the best outcome.
04-06-12, 04:48 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,763
Bikes: Pinarello Veneto, Pinarello Montello, Bianchi Celeste
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
ask him if you could take it for a "test ride" and never come back
04-06-12, 04:54 PM
#5
mmmmmm
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: caledon, ontario
Posts: 75
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
04-06-12, 05:04 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ocean County, NJ
Posts: 2,914
Bikes: Looking for a Baylis or Wizard in 59-62cm range
Mentioned: 65 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 374 Post(s)
Liked 346 Times
in
115 Posts
Have friends help out. https://vimeo.com/6475675
Last edited by Vonruden; 04-06-12 at 05:04 PM. Reason: Spelling
04-06-12, 05:10 PM
#7
Steel
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Monterey Bay area
Posts: 130
Bikes: Lots! All steel and 1 titanium.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
what if the guy selling the bike bought it to flip from someone who stole it without knowing? hmmm... Tough situation. I like the address/biz card down the seat tube idea.
04-06-12, 05:11 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,662
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1610 Post(s)
Liked 2,592 Times
in
1,224 Posts
I'd go ID the seller with the original owner and to verify it was his bike. I'd bet there are some other bikes there too. I recovered my property and busted a fencing ring once that had over 2000 items. My willingness to go to court put some tags on these guys that put them out of business. I think my big deal was that they came into my house and now I was going to know who they were and where they lived. These people live some pretty pathetic lives. Good luck.
Last edited by curbtender; 04-06-12 at 06:10 PM.
04-06-12, 06:01 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Minnesota- the frozen tundra
Posts: 1,946
Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Grand Prix, 1976 Gitane Tour de France
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
There was a news story about a year ago about a woman who saw her stolen bike on CL so she called to go buy it, asked to test ride it and just rode away.
Probably not the best course of action but pretty amusing and fitting.
Probably not the best course of action but pretty amusing and fitting.
04-06-12, 06:28 PM
#12
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
Man that sucks. Real men and women don't steal bikes - they work hard, earn money and pay for them.
See this thread for a great start-to-finish story on one recovery:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=stolen+bike
Good luck
DD
See this thread for a great start-to-finish story on one recovery:
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ht=stolen+bike
Good luck
DD
Last edited by Drillium Dude; 04-06-12 at 06:38 PM.
04-06-12, 06:49 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 271
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You have to go ask if you can take a test ride and once you hit the corner stand on it and have a friend waiting about a mile away or go confront the person, however you can be arrested for assault or stealing your bicycle back. I have been there.
04-06-12, 07:19 PM
#14
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,927 Times
in
1,492 Posts
I need to get on the jump and do that. I have lots of pics no serial numbers
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
04-06-12, 07:23 PM
#15
is just a real cool dude
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: The Thumb, MI
Posts: 3,165
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 32 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 34 Times
in
14 Posts
You could always bring a decent U lock and lock it up to something on your test drive and then call the cops. That way the bike isn't going anywhere while waiting on the cops or call them before hand so your not sitting waiting with the theif until the cops come. Otherwise that might make for some interesting small talk while your waiting for the 5-0.
04-06-12, 07:31 PM
#16
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: PAZ
Posts: 12,294
Mentioned: 255 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2588 Post(s)
Liked 4,824 Times
in
1,709 Posts
^ I like this idea - particularly if the OP locks it in front of some public place, like a Starbucks or something.
The seller isn't likely to get very vocal about it with a bunch of witnesses and the police are fairly likely to show up at some point, whether they were called or not
DD
The seller isn't likely to get very vocal about it with a bunch of witnesses and the police are fairly likely to show up at some point, whether they were called or not
DD
04-06-12, 07:40 PM
#17
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 489
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I take my buddy who is a MMA fighter, ask for the bike back, and have '91' already punched into my phone.
Give me my bike or go to jail, after a trip to the ER.
No mercy on bike thieves.
YMMV
Give me my bike or go to jail, after a trip to the ER.
No mercy on bike thieves.
YMMV
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
poster
General Cycling Discussion
42
06-21-17 09:05 PM
RunningBulldog
General Cycling Discussion
18
07-18-13 08:45 AM
