Stolen bikes

There should be a way of getting the stolen bike trade on BL closed down - the only reason bike theft is so bad in that area, particularly close to the weekend, is because of the market - it wouldn't just move somewhere else, because the market it part of the cause of the levels of theft - it's just too easy for them to trade there. Is there not some way of getting the police to prevent it? i've done my angry citizen thing and phoned the police out of frustration on a sunday morning, asking why they are not there arresting all the people selling stolen bikes, and they turned up half an hour later and cleared out the shops under the arches. How many people are on this forum? What are there, 20 thieves, max, selling bikes - n i recognized some of the same faces from a few years ago, still flogging stolen bikes - can we not get it closed? Any ideas?

D-lock justice.

A regular large gathering on Sunday morning near the usual spots, pointing and taking photos of the suspected thieves? Would be a time investment but it might make them think twice.

Although the BL bike trade may only be a symptom of a larger problem, anything that makes getting a quick buck from stolen goods more difficult has got to be a step in the right direction.

A regular large gathering on Sunday morning near the usual spots, pointing and taking photos of the suspected thieves? Would be a time investment but it might make them think twice.

Although the BL bike trade may only be a symptom of a larger problem, anything that makes getting a quick buck from stolen goods more difficult has got to be a step in the right direction.

Plan. Let's do it. The market's a cause, not just a symptom.

The police at Brick Lane did used to give a shit. They were doing some good work with the local LCC group. I've copied in the info from March 2005 below. It may have been posted in this thread before but... meh.

I know it's not exactly groundbreaking stuff but for the Met it's impressively proactive re bike theft. Unfortunately the guy who was co-ordinating it from the Met's side left and now they are from what I can tell pretty hopeless.

http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/campaigns/brick_lane_police_initiative.html

March 2005
Brick Lane Police Station is looking to re-unite cyclists with some of the bikes that they have recovered from Brick Lane Market. If they match a cyclist to a bike then they can prove the bike was originally stolen and charge the person who had it. Therefore it is important to help them out here as this will help improve the situation at Brick Lane.
We would like to re-iterate the point that if your bike is stolen, the single most helpful piece of information you can give the police in your theft report is the frame number. So please do write it down somewhere safe.

What Is The Initiative?
The Metropolitan Police in partnership with the Tower Hamlets Market Inspectors have been working for a number of months seizing suspected stolen pedal cycles from illegal street traders in order that these cycles can be returned to their respectful owners.

What Are The Successes?
So far with police and market inspectors have seized over 40 pedal cycles in the hope of returning them to their owners. In addition those persons caught trading illegally are prosecuted.

What You Should Do!
If your cycle is lost or stolen:
Report this to the police. Please try to give the most complete description possible. This should include the make & model, colour, type of handlebars, distinctive marks & any accessories. What would also be of a great help to us would be the frame number, which can be found on the bottom of the frame. Also if you have a picture of the cycle this would really help.
Attend Brick Lane Police Station, 25 Brick Lane, E1 with your crime reference number & you will be able to look through the seized cycle picture folder & hopefully identify your bike.
If your cycle is not amongst the ones that we have confiscated we will keep your details & contact you if we do come across it.

NB The current batch of seized bikes date back to October 2004.

Plan. Let's do it. The market's a cause, not just a symptom.

I'd love to, but being an non-Londonenger, can only be an ideas man. You guys should definitely get to it though. I think the obvious presence of people who clearly know what they are up to could be an effective deterrent.

Attend Brick Lane Police Station, 25 Brick Lane, E1 with your crime reference number & you will be able to look through the seized cycle picture folder & hopefully identify your bike.

NB The current batch of seized bikes date back to October 2004.

Must be a pretty sturdy folder - first i've heard of that, thanks. When I spoke to the police about the bikes they were confiscating, the policeman was a bit hissy n said it's a pointless exercise because it's mostly impossible to prove without frame numbers matching up with stolen ones, and so no-one can be charged. I think hefty cyclist presence, and photos that could be posted here would be good, but it would need quite a sizable group to do it, but it's a really horrible, intimidating environment, and I can't imagine many folks wanting to risk dealing with that. Would be really good to just get a coupla community support officers posted for a coupla hours on that corner.

If it can be organised I think it is a really proactive move. Post up a rogues gallery with pics of the bikes, mabe people will recognise their's and then the police could step in

Tonight I had my saddle, a black San Marco Supercorsa, and a Gipiemme aero seat post stolen on Arcola Street in Dalston.

Fucking irritating!

Found my bike today at the all too obvious thieves Market in brick lane...
That place needs some serious cleaning up!
I got it from a guy who had bought it and gave him a small finders fee, but would really like to teach those bastards that sold it a lesson...
He pointed them out to me and I talked to them, but I was alone, they where seven and I was concerned with losing the bike again.
I'm calling the cops now, but doubt they can do much?

By the way, I saw a bianchi pista with drop-bars and red/green bar tape for sale down by tea building and a red gazelle by the car park off brick lane. I left fairly early, but there where no other track bikes there up until eleven at least. Tim is still down there looking for his Sixar...

My boyfriend's bike was stolen yesterday from outside our flat along with a lot of our neighbours' bikes. It's a black Esperia 5200 hybrid bike with a rear mudguard, rear and front lights and a missing rear reflector.

He went to Brick Lane this morning to look for it but it was pouring with rain and freezing so there weren't many people around. He also took a walk around a nearby estate and found his sawn through lock as well as a neighbour's stolen bike (which he recovered). The bike's probably still in the estate. Maybe it will make it's way to Brick Lane next weekend. Anyone know if they sell stolen bikes down BL on Saturdays as well?

The Esperia, it is this one?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=130319720586

It's been verified... one stolen bike on eBay.

Fucking great. Had my bike nicked from Ashwin St, Dalston tonight, 2 locks broken through. Please please please keep an eye out for this as I've literally just finished building it, its my first bike and obviously lots of sentimental value. Any info or sightings please call me straight away. 07984 276096. I will reward whoever finds it as well.

Sixar frame, dark grey.
Wolber GTX rear wheel on Suzue hub.
Fizik saddle.
105 front brake
On One front hub on deep machined rim.

gutted for u man, i know this bike well and will certainly be keeping the eye's peeled

I'd love to, but being an non-Londonenger, can only be an ideas man. You guys should definitely get to it though. I think the obvious presence of people who clearly know what they are up to could be an effective deterrent.

I had my first fixed gear bike nicked from my hands on a sunday at BL 3 years ago. It was mental, the bike was between me and a wall (i was leaning against it), a group of kids came around from the side and while one pushed me other 2 blocked me and the bike was taken from me carried in the middle of hundreds of people (3pm), no one even blinked. People just opened way for them to run off, while I was left alone with another bike behind unlocked.... it was a quick stop. This means the worlds gone mad. The same kid that took the bike came to me 15min later, already with my gf around, I obvs recognized him, and he told me "50quid and you´ll have it in 10min"... by the time I got the money (yes i did not even think) the police was around, he denied everything. the police was useless. told me to report it at the station in BL. the guy never ran way from there... it was surreal. In that day i lost great hope in all this system. Have u all realised already that the market sells stolen goods because..... the people living in london, buy from them!?
There can only be offer if there´s demand. I used to work in a bar around shoreditch, and it was really frequent to hear people saying "I´m going to BL this sunday and try to buy a new bike".... this is fucking shocking. I gave up trying to educate people.

It would be necessary to act in a way to deter people that go to BL on sundays of buying stolen bikes. Imagine big fucking posters with really allusive msgs to both seller/buyers.
If there was poster, whatever, all over the market with this shit you would look really stupid in not giving a shit. Just an idea that crossed my mind in one of many other thoughts of those who lost something from their fucking sweat.
edit. Just one quick last thought: I read about a lot of people here going with stuff like"kill him if u see my bike", "punch him", etc.... But i was in that situation, all those thoughts came to me. It was just that when you´re surrounded by 5 fellas, things tend to change in perspective (speaking honestly). I praise myself in larger way than my property.

Copper involved in fencing stolen bikes, bought from Brick Lane. Great.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-16871420-details/Policeman%20sold%20stolen%20bikes%20on%20eBay/article.do?expand=true

I really count my chickens that my bikes in a secure location during the day after reading some of the stories in here!! It sucks how little appears to be done by the blatent selling of stolen goods. For those of you that have lost bikes I hope you get reunited with them again or at least set fire to the little scrotes on Brick Lane market.

filthy scum bag

Will be sentenced today. According to the article he is living a charmed life, so perhaps a pat on the head and a suspended sentence?

I saw flashmx at BLB on Sunday - It was great to see that he got his bike back.

I've datatagged mine. Hopefully it will make it a little easier to get back, can't hurt (wallet excluded). Anything would be worth it if my bike got stolen. Also, anyone ever made a claim against the lock makers. The more expensive locks normally have guarantees that pay out. Wondered if these worked in the real world.

there are some pro and con with datatagged, the con is that the theft could ram a stick inside the seat post damaging it rendering the tag useless.

if you have any sticker that said 'this bike have been datatagged' on your bike, i suggested you to removed it.

does it go inside de st?

Copper involved in fencing stolen bikes, bought from Brick Lane. Great.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-16871420-details/Policeman%20sold%20stolen%20bikes%20on%20eBay/article.do?expand=true

Filed under 'Entertainment' on the Standard site?

And, apparently ...

By Nigel Rosser And Justin Davenport, Evening Standard Last updated at 00:00am on 25.02.05
I think I remember that story coming out quite a while ago--it's either that old story or seems to have taken a very long time for this to come to court and to be concluded?

Did you just find it on the ES site yesterday or by Googling?

Filed under 'Entertainment' on the Standard site?

And, apparently ...

I think I remember that story coming out quite a while ago--it's either that old story or seems to have taken a very long time for this to come to court and to be concluded?

Did you just find it on the ES site yesterday or by Googling?

Just seen your question Oliver. Can't actually remember, think I may have seen it mentioned on (ahem) Bike Radar.