Success story from Brick Lane Market - A play in three acts

You are as wrong as being born a hermaphrodite...... .....obviously copyright theft is more important than being a hermo-phobic facist nazi... But we'll leave it there.

fixamatosis.....

Win on the bike situation...

how is this better than confronting the people that actually stole the bike?
The only reason to steal the bike is to sell it to someone. The people buying are more 'average guy in the street' than the guy actively stealing the bike to sell it. Make the recipient of stolen goods feel like a criminal, I bet you reduce the demand more than trying to nick all the stolen bike sellers in London (who by the way, the police don't give a fuck about compared to rapes, murders, violent crime etc.).

Just seemed like a lower risk, more effective way of getting the bike back. But if you're up for a ruck with a gang of East London hoodies, then that's your perogative.

this story is about 90% legit and generally backed. however, if i just bought a second hand bike (i know it seems obvious to everyone on here but i bet A LOT of people really don't think about this shit being stolen) and you accosted me claiming it was yours then started wrestling me off it, well fuck, yr lucky dude wasn't into fighting.

Yes, I was lucky he wasn't violent at all and never actually tried to hit me. He was however completely reluctant to even listen to me - just completely in denial about everything.

how is this better than confronting the people that actually stole the bike?

I never did plan to wrestle the bike off this guy. But when I didn't find a copper I had to act fast; his arrogance however just re-enforced my view that I done the right thing.

Prolly some sort of hipster bedwetter!

The only reason to steal the bike is to sell it to someone. The people buying are more 'average guy in the street' than the guy actively stealing the bike to sell it. Make the recipient of stolen goods feel like a criminal, I bet you reduce the demand more than trying to nick all the stolen bike sellers in London (who by the way, the police don't give a fuck about compared to rapes, murders, violent crime etc.).

Just seemed like a lower risk, more effective way of getting the bike back. But if you're up for a ruck with a gang of East London hoodies, then that's your perogative.

no one is going to stop buying stolen bikes because a few kids off a message board went and go their bikes back. i'd rather actual 'criminals' were getting caught, or caught out or whatever rather than people mistakenly buying stolen bikes.

i know OP is saying that the dude was a bit of a dick etc but i think asking him to split it is pretty harsh.

Kids? Half the people who've posted are 40 or more. They would be flattered; were they not being patronised.

The idea of waiting until the bike is bought, then approaching and explaining it is stolen is basically the only safe option if you go down yourself. I would not approach the gangs because they are quite happy to kick the living fuck out of you.
By no means is this going to stop the thefts, as the bikes are still being bought and demand is still there. But if you want your bike back quickly then this is really your only option, unless you want to leave it to the police who admit they wont investigate the theft for 3 to 4 weeks.

Gotta add that my cousin went and asked one of the sellers at the end of the day (with me making myself scarce as they'd seen me hanging around all day) and he informed us of a location with a number of fixed gears for sale. If you've had anything specific stolen in the last few days/week, message me and I'll pass it onto him to keep and eye out for when he goes down to look for mine.

no one is going to stop buying stolen bikes because a few kids off a message board went and go their bikes back. i'd rather actual 'criminals' were getting caught, or caught out or whatever rather than people mistakenly buying stolen bikes.
Hmm...I'd question the 'mistakenly' in that. If you're clueless enough to buy from them, then that's your look out.

As Tim says, if you've had your bike nicked (and we all know what a kick in the nuts that feels like), this seems like a safer and more effective way of getting it back.

I'm not saying that it's OK to let the thieves off - just prolly a more pragmatic way of getting the bike back.

Tim, you defo are a good egg man.... well done on that, would have been awesome to see

Kids? Half the people who've posted are 40 or more. They would be flattered; were they not being patronised.

should definitely be flattered

The idea of waiting until the bike is bought, then approaching and explaining it is stolen is basically the only safe option if you go down yourself. I would not approach the gangs because they are quite happy to kick the living fuck out of you.
By no means is this going to stop the thefts, as the bikes are still being bought and demand is still there. But if you want your bike back quickly then this is really your only option, unless you want to leave it to the police who admit they wont investigate the theft for 3 to 4 weeks.

Gotta add that my cousin went and asked one of the sellers at the end of the day (with me making myself scarce as they'd seen me hanging around all day) and he informed us of a location with a number of fixed gears for sale. If you've had anything specific stolen in the last few days/week, message me and I'll pass it onto him to keep and eye out for when he goes down to look for mine.

i appreciated that no one really wants some serious confrontation when getting their bike back but at the end of the day if you go for this whole approaching the seller after he's bought the bike then the thief has still won.

That's what I mean, catch 22. But fuck getting my head kicked in, if you'd been there you'd realise. They're not messing around with it, it's a serious gang and if they'd caught Mr. Brompton he'd have been dead behind Bethnal Green tube station by now.

Hmm...I'd question the 'mistakenly' in that. If you're clueless enough to buy from them, then that's your look out.

i just think you're looking through some edscoble tinted glasses. we're on a bike forum, so the idea of bikes getting stolen is very aprent to us. however i'm sure there are loads and loads of people who seriously don't think about that.

Is this idea too much of a long shot?

Every week some volunteers from here go down to Brick lane with a blackberry / iPhone and take pictures of the stolen bikes, then upload them to this forum where people who have had their bikes stolen can be watching in. If they can provide sufficient evidence that their bike is the one that has been uploaded then it may be possible to do something about it the way Lenni managed?

and the person who just brought the bike is not going to want to fight you after he just dropped £££ on the bike while you stood by and watched?

Technically, pirate dvds aren't stolen, they are just copies, and there is a difference ;)

piracy = copy of a original, original remains intact
theft = removal of the original from the owner, transfer of goods

;)

Buying those DVDs at Brick Lane isn't a simple case of piracy and denying the film studios and cinemas the money, it's funds a massive criminal operation. As far as I understand most of those sellers are illegal immigrants.

Anyway I have digressed. Amazing story, great to hear you got your bicycle back.

TooTallTim is right, these are mean bastards, I've seen it, you people did amazingly well today. As for the volunteer thing NickG, it's a noble idea but can you really be arsed hanging around possibly spotting other people's bikes with a good chance of a kicking? I take my hat off to you if you can. I saw the same shit going on at Portobello this weekend too.

i just think you're looking through some edscoble tinted glasses. we're on a bike forum, so the idea of bikes getting stolen is very aprent to us. however i'm sure there are loads and loads of people who seriously don't think about that.

...then they'll learn fucking quickly when the rightful owner turns up.

Tim, post a pic of your bike, let's go for 3/3

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread26170.html

How long did it take them to grind through the lock? It was a NY 3000 right?

Less than a minute.

i just think you're looking through some edscoble tinted glasses. we're on a bike forum, so the idea of bikes getting stolen is very aprent to us. however i'm sure there are loads and loads of people who seriously don't think about that.

Well this will make them think, won't it?

Well, you all know that mine and my brother's bike got nicked out of the communal garage in our block of flats.

First Act

I befriended Tim here from the forum, who had his nicked too, and we arranged to meet up today at Brick Lane at 7am to check out the bikes being sold. We did that and I hung out there until about 9 but since my bike wasn't there I took the bus back home, having resigned to the fact, that the bike was gone forever.

Second Act

After having had a kip I got a phone call from Tim telling me that he had spotted my bike. I got on the phone to the police and asked them to come down and me and my brother went there on our spare bikes. My bike was still there! I frantically ran around the Brick Lane and actually met two police officers in a car (I don't think they were dispatched after my call). I ask them to help me and they actually did. They came with me to the street corner where I spotted my bike and the guys who were selling my bike ran away leaving my bike locked to the fence! I showed the PCs the evidence I had (various photos) and the market traders on the other side of the fence offered to cut the lock with their angle grinder. And so they did:

Third act

As if that wasn't lucky enough there was more to come. I locked up my just liberated bike on the top of Brick Lane near some police officers. I returned to the spot where I found my bike. Sure enough the gang, that had run away, had returned are kept on selling more bikes. I sat there looking out for Tim's bike as well as my brother's. About one hour later I saw a guy test-riding my brother's bike right in front of my nose.

I ran back to where I had seen the police last but they were gone. So I ran back to the place and saw the guy, who had test-ridden my brother's bike wheeling it away. So I politely confronted him and told him that he had just bought a stolen bike. I was prepared to split the price he just paid or come to some other agreement.

He however was very arrogant and tried to make off. His girlfriend was also very hysterical and gave me shit. I grabbed the bike and his rucksack whilst he tried to cycle away. We struggled along for about 100 metres right into the market where I managed to get him to a stop. I cried for help and sorta wrestled the guy off the bike. By that time Tim had arrived and helped to keep the guy in check.

A circle of people formed around us and I shouted "I have evidence! I have evidence!" and held my brother's insurance papers in the air like in a bad movie. The crowd turned against the guy on the bike and I sorta shouted "Lets see the frame number! Lets turn the bike around." I managed to turn the bike around and a market trader help me to read the number from the BB shell. "It his! He's right!" he shouted and the crowd nodded approvingly. The guy who had bought the bike and his girlfriend shouted "That's theft! I call the police." to which I just got my phone out and phoned the police myself. At this stage the buyers made off having acknowledged their defeat.

I stood there for another minute catching my breath and bought the trader who helped me a beer (it definitely wasn't his first). My brother arrived at the scene and I gave him back his bike.

Pheew! What a day! Faith in humanity: restored.
The biggest thanks to Tim (Timmy2WheelsTooTallTim) who was extremely helpful, called me and help me get my brother's bike off the hands of the buyer. I can't say how much I am in debt to you Tim.

Me and my brother have also been exceptionally lucky having gotten back both our bikes on the same day.

This forum rocks!

firstly- I dont know you but really happy for you, took some bottle and wits to do that.
second- well written story too! have a great time riding whats rightfully yours today.

Very impressed!!! Congratulations on your bikes safe return.

Thanks - appreciated.

That's my primary security at the moment :(

At least I know where I stand!

https://www.londonfgss.com/thread26170.html

Less than a minute.

the police video protesteors these days at any big march demo etc
a video or still of the toerags selling bike on brick lane a " MOST WANTED LIST " would be fun to get set up
rogues gallery thread showing people who are almost certainly theives and don't give me any of the we are stepping on their human rights the police have videoed most of us going about our daily business with out so much as a bye your leave

glad to hear some of the scum are getting their come-uppance arrests and chasings
we just got to keep on keeping on

Great stuff Lenni!

Most importantly, please spread the word to anyone you see trying to buy one of these dodgy bikes on Cygnet St and Sclater St, DO NOT FUCKING DO IT. I tried explaining to a couple of people today that the reason bikes are getting stolen is because idiots are buying them. Get rid of the demand for stolen bikes and we may cut down on the number of thefts. Utopian dream I know, but today has proved that it is possible to recover a number of bikes quite easily.

Alot of people think "Well the last owner took the insurance money" it's win win. you'll never stop the demand but you can drop it so the value drops off. wonder if they will go though the hassle for £20-30?

this story is about 90% legit and generally backed. however, if i just bought a second hand bike (i know it seems obvious to everyone on here but i bet A LOT of people really don't think about this shit being stolen) and you accosted me claiming it was yours then started wrestling me off it, well fuck, yr lucky dude wasn't into fighting.

It's a tough one, the victim is now the person who just bought the bike, they might not have the money to go to a bike shop and this could be a means to get them around. they are out of pocket and accused of thieving. thats a pretty bum wrap...
The only up side is they might not risk buying a bike from a dodgy market in the future

That's what I mean, catch 22. But fuck getting my head kicked in, if you'd been there you'd realise. They're not messing around with it, it's a serious gang and if they'd caught Mr. Brompton he'd have been dead behind Bethnal Green tube station by now.

Maybe we could slip Cav a few notes and ask him to "test drive" the odd bike. We could whip them away before they even got their D-locks out