Originally Posted by
unterhausen
I would have to say that if someone followed the legal procedures to take possession of a bicycle then I have no problem with their ownership. My guess is that some time in the history of a bike that is acquired like that it was stolen. Better that it be used than sitting underneath a landfill
Exactly, report it to the police, letting them know that if it is unclaimed that a request will be filed to take ownership of it. And as you said there's a good chance that it's already been stolen at least once. And if it's been registered with the local police, or a national lost/stolen property recovery organization there's a good chance of it's getting back to it's owner. That is
IF they want it.
As I've said about the only exception would be if you actually see the bike sticking out of a dumpster or partially buried in a pile of trash. Otherwise contact your local police and let them recover it, filing a request to claim it if it's owner doesn't claim it.