Originally Posted by
NightShift
You wouldn't get to keep the bike, but it would make it very unlikely that you would be charged with possession of stolen property, and would make it more likely the thief would be caught.
Yes it would protect you, since there are no titles to bikes and no real registry to check, it is a minimum of due diligence on your part to verify your paid ownership of the bike. A pic of the seller with the bike is good too.