Originally Posted by
Andy_K
What if the guy the OP found it with owned the bike previously, a thief stole it from him and sold it to the OP, then the previous owner saw the second thief with it and reclaimed it? I don't think it's likely, but that could lead to sitcom levels of misunderstanding between "rightful owners."
The property, as long as you can prove it’s yours, is still yours no matter if anyone paid for it.
Buying stolen property, whether or not you bought it good faith (you presuming you purchased it from the rightful owner) is still stolen property and unless it was adjudicated through proper legal mechanisms (such as the process -in most cases - selling the property in a police or government auction) the property is still yours. I’d be careful though using the “self help” method, (taking your property back) because if the person you’re taking the property from paid for the property (bought it in good faith from the thief) and defends his perceived rights to the property, and you get hurt, too bad.
just my two cents....