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@Dammit
I once asked a police officer about brick lane, specifically whether or not it was possible to buy a legit second hand bike there, or if they were all stolen.
(Forgive my naivety- I was new to London and it was a long time ago.)
The Police officer though for a second, then got out a UV pen and torch, scribbled “Met Police” on the down tube of his bike (he was a cycle copper) then shone the light on it.
Obviously “Met Police” then fluoresced.
He said to get one of the torches and to run it over the frame -and this is the bit that got me- and if nothing showed up in terms of owners name etc then the police could not take the bike off me even if it was stolen.
I reiterated that I did not want to buy a stolen bike, he said it did not matter, all that mattered was keeping hold of it after I’d bought it, stolen or not, and re-advocated getting a little UV torch.
I decided at that point to never buy a bike when I did not have a fair idea of the history.
Slightly shocked at the copper also.