20+ yrs ago I bought a steel, cheapo Motiv Stonegrinder bike from Costco. It's got very few miles on it and is actually in pretty decent shape. It's a nice ride to go out with my kids on. Last fall I loaned the bike to a good friend's son who was attending college here. The original chain broke and before he replaced it the bike was stolen. (unfortunately, he never told me about that which is a separate issue).

Fast forward to this afternoon as I'm scanning Craigslist and I see the bike posted for sale. 90% certain it's mine - it's got the Performance Gotham road tires and I can see the new cantis on the front that I put on it. Plus the ad says "it even has a new chain". Problem is I'm still on vacation and can't double check the serial number.

I paid $200 for the bike and it probably isn't worth any more than $75-$100. Would you even pursue trying to recover it? I know 5-6 different police officers between the campus, city, county and state patrol ranks.

I would, but I would make sure I was 100% about it being mine.

I cant see a bike a like that being worth even close to $75. $25 maybe.. But hey if you want it back and and you're sure it's yours, why not?

I think it's the principle of someone else trying to make money on the bike when it's not legally theirs. At the same time I weigh it with the thoughts running through my head to thin the stable which then means "just let it go"

Maybe the seller isnt the person who stole it and doesnt know it's stolen.. or not. If I thought the seller had stolen the bike though I'd definitely want to recover it, on principle as you said.

If you have some acquaintances who are police, go for it I say... if they can be bothered. It's not the money, it's the principle...

If you have the serial number and, more importantly, if you filed a police report that includes that serial number, then go for it if it worth the trouble for you to do so. One of mine was taken and I filed a report. Months later a friend in a shop I notified let me know it was there at that moment. I showed up and locked the bike to an immovable object, then confronted the guy and told him I'd phoned the police. He stuck around to argue and when the fuzz showed up I could prove it was mine, they let me take it and arrested the guy for possession of stolen property. No way to prove he'd stolen it, of course, but it was a crime for him to even have it.

I'm checking with the student to find out if he filed a report. If not, I can do so. I have the original owners manual from when I purchased. Just can't remember if the serial number is in the spreadsheet on my home computer with all the other ones. Crossing my fingers it is. If not, I may be out of luck.

I don't know that I would try to recover the bike - but I would be interested in seeing bike thieves put out of business.

Thing is ... no way of telling if the guy selling the bike now knows it is stolen. It may have gone through several hands by now. I would also be worried about the grief I might cause someone who does not know they are selling a stolen bike, and indeed may have no way of knowing that - particularly if no police report was filed.

I would be tempted to scope out the situation in person, but it the seller is the thief, that has it's own hazards.

Interesting conundrum ... also ... how sure are you that the kid of friends did not pawn the bike for Kraft Dinner? Or something ... else?

I agree. I think you probably spent more on the tires than the whole bike is really worth. However, the point is the same. If you can actually get a bike thief prosecuted, which I doubt, I'd fully support you following up on it.

The problem is that the person in possession of the bike now can claim to have purchased the bike at a thrift store, from a friend/stranger etc. At best you'll get the bike back but it would be impossible to prove that the bike was actually "stolen" and there is no proof that the person in possession of it is the person that actually stole it in the first place. Basically it will bog down into a he said/she said. Which after all is essentially what police work is anyway. Which is why DAs prosecute so few actual cases. They want to win at trial.

I would consider it. Possibly would express interest, then show up and chat the guy up - tell him "I usually buy bikes to flip them, but am looking for a beater to ride around that is less likely to get stolen". Then get a feel for the seller based on how they respond. If it is yours, and you get the sense that they had something to do with its abduction, make the call. If it isn't yours, or you think they really unwittingly bought it, and you're ok with not getting it back, find some excuse to not get it.

If you just want to get the bike back without involving the police, if you show up with the purchase receipt and the police report, showing them the evidence, and telling them you would prefer to not bring the police into it, would very likely result in them giving you the bike back. (presuming they're not crazy)

Tough situation...but I think that this is the way I would go...but...cautiously and carefully...you never know what could transpire...

Seems like this starts or ends depending upon whether a police report was filed.

If you have all the appropriate documentation and you really want to recover the bike you can. Especially if a report was filed and you have the serial number recorded and can identify unique characteristics of the bike. The PO is going to need to be certain the the bike is in fact yours and there is no ambiguity as to who the real owner is. The person that is selling the bike is most certainly not going to be charged unless the theft happened very recently. Otherwise this bike could have changed hands numerous times. You could recover the bike but do not expect an arrest. Also BE CAREFUL if you intend on confronting this person on your own and also do not forcibly take the bike from him. If you confirm that it is yours contact the police and they can assist in reconciling the situation. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. It's very possible that this changed hands a time or two. After turning off my phone last night I got a text from my college age son telling me he knows who has the bike - I'll get more info from him today and then decide what I'll do tomorrow after flying home.