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@user115971
Hi all,
I’m the owner of the stolen bike that my brother @cyclelove posted about in post #15385 on the page previous to this one.
After three days of scouring the obvious places since it was stolen on Friday just gone, I’m sure I’ve found it on eBay. The details and the photos match up. The seller’s profile shows that they’ve sold 3 bikes in the past month, and are currently trying to sell 9 different bikes including what I think is my one.
I reported it to the police on the day it was stolen, including the frame serial number. When I found it (or found what I believe to be my bike) I contacted them this morning to explain. They said it has been assigned to an officer and couldn’t tell me what they’ll do next and when to expect to hear from them.
I’m sure I read somewhere earlier in this thread that, whilst the police aren’t allowed to pose as a buyer themselves, if you set up a viewing in an open public space with the seller and inform the police, they’ll be able to show up in your place to seize the bike and check the frame number...but the operator on the Met police’s Crime Management Service phone line today said they wouldn’t be able to do that.
Whilst most of the advice online (and my own fear) says I shouldn’t set up and go to a viewing to try to see the frame number myself, I feel really frustrated.
Has anyone has success in getting their bike back this way and has advice? I don’t know how I’d be able to get a look at the underside of the frame to see the frame number...
Thanks