What to do if your bike is stolen

I live in Holborn/ Bloomsbury area and i see a lot white yobs on pretty expensive bikes which i know they cant afford and i know they didnt buy, so if your bike has been stolen in w1, wc1, wc2, ec1, ec2 sort of areas, spend some time around the Grays Inn road area as this is where most of them live and you will see a lot of them riding around doing wheelies etc...

Hi All,

New to this forum, but I can't post too much about myself for fear of the thief figuring out I'm on to him. (will introduce myself when it's all over)

I found my own stolen bike listed for sale on Gumtree, the blokes having none of it from me as I suspect my accent is too 'formal' and not london in the slightest (will get a friend to try in the morning to arrange a meet).

Anyway was wondering if you guys have any tips for arranging a meetup with him (he says to call him)... I've contacted the police but they appear to be doing jack all (was told by my local police that they can't do anything without me getting an address out of him).

Thanks,
John

Well you fucked up by telling him that it was yours for starters. You better hope he isn't spooked or that he hasn't sold it to somebody else.

Get somebody else to call him with a solid cash offer and arrange to meet asap. Take friends with you, have someone get a photo/video of the event is possible in case he is dissagreeable.
Reason with him and show him some proof that it is your bike, like a picture of you on it. If you cannot get it off him, contact the police again with details of address, photo of perp etc..

Well you fucked up by telling him that it was yours for starters. You better hope he isn't spooked or that he hasn't sold it to somebody else.

Get somebody else to call him with a solid cash offer and arrange to meet asap. Take friends with you, have someone get a photo/video of the event is possible in case he is dissagreeable.
Reason with him and show him some proof that it is your bike, like a picture of you on it. If you cannot get it off him, contact the police again with details of address, photo of perp etc..

Where did I say I told him it was mine? I simply posed as a buyer but he got spooked at something.. We litterly got to
[INDENT]"Hi, is this shaun"
"yes"
"Is the langster still for sale"
"yes"
"cool could you tell me about it, is it in good condtion"
"actually no it's not for sale anymore"
"but you just said it was for sale"
"I was wrong bye"
[/INDENT]Tried getting him on text (waited 7 hours and different phone) with a cold hard offer of cash but nothing and the police tried to get him in a sting and still nothing.

damn good advice

Good Luck John88!

I never really realised the threat bike thieves posed until I found this forum. Already invested in new locks and will be getting my bike marked/registered as soon as possible.

Does anyone have any advice for locking up bikes in Cambridge city centre? places to avoid, times of day, etc. I'd assume it wouldn't be too bad considered the sheer number of tourists that are constantly around but would like to hear of anyone's experiences.

cheers!

Try the Cambridge sub-forum, Ruddvar.

Ah right, not too familiar with the forum layout yet. Thanks!

Just place a battery inside of the seat tube and run wires throughout all of the other tubes, the handlebar, and the seat. Trip the switch, just after locking up your bike.

This makes your bike quite literally, untouchable! If you do touch it, you'll get a medium shock. If you don't have a pacemaker, you'll easily survive!

this is barely worth replying to.

• how do you connect the switch to the battery
  
• how do you stop the battery shorting instantly
  
• seats aren't electrically conductive, in general
  
• nor are handlebars assuming they're wrapped
  
• will a thief wearing rubber-soled shoes even notice
  
• when an innocent pacemaker-wearing cyclist locks near you and brushes against your bike, how do you feel then.
  
  

etc

I suspect I've just put more thought into the stupid idea than ^^

this is barely worth replying to.

• how do you connect the switch to the battery
  
• how do you stop the battery shorting instantly
  
• seats aren't electrically conductive, in general
  
• nor are handlebars assuming they're wrapped
  
• will a thief wearing rubber-soled shoes even notice
  
• when an innocent pacemaker-wearing cyclist locks near you and brushes against your bike, how do you feel then.
  
  

etc

But you're far too late! I've already done it! Left my bike unlocked in front of the library. Watched two would be thieves from across the street. The first one that touched my bike, didn't quite believe that he had been shocked. He therefore, looked very queerily at me bike and touched it again! He quickly walked away! LOL

This could turn out pretty bad for you: the primary effect of a low-level electric shock is contraction of your muscles. If the thief grabs your bike, then he may literally not be able to let it go, despite his best efforts. (Obviously just using a battery won't provide this level of current)

And just what size of battery would this be then?

I'm calling bullshit.

AAA init?

Had my Brooks saddle (and my pals too) stolen last night from outside Haggerston Park while the closing ceremony was on. Bike was well locked up but I wrongly assumed that the security and police presence would deter them. It was pretty close to the entrance, but still, don't take risks.

I bet it was like a kid in a sweet shop material for thieves last night down there

Live & learn

Hi Guys,

My bike wasn't recovered (even though it was listed on Gumtree twice)... Disappointed in the Task Force as they "didn't have the time". Anyway would be thankful if you could keep an eye out for it as it's in London somewhere

Heres a picture

And more information can be found on my website: Stolen Langster if you spot it please let me know via email john@stolen-bikes.co.uk

I've also developed a Bikeshd.co.uk type service called bikefinder it covers the whole of the UK and features email alerts so you don't need to check it everyday.

Thanks,
John

There are certain areas in e.g Hackney that are bike theft hotspots. There should be some way of sharing this information with others online. There used to be a google maps mash up of bike thefts (i couldnt locate it now) but it was very little used. If people shared when they had bike/parts stolen you could build up a picture of the most risky places to leave a bike. There are also places where its common knowledge bikes are sold on. If you can get the police to mark you bike and you happen to locate it you have no chance of getting it back unless you can prove its yours. Ive heard of many poeple buying back bikes that have been stolen.

There are certain areas in e.g Hackney that are bike theft hotspots. There should be some way of sharing this information with others online. There used to be a google maps mash up of bike thefts (i couldnt locate it now) but it was very little used. If people shared when they had bike/parts stolen you could build up a picture of the most risky places to leave a bike.

Yes, that would be a good idea. The main problem with targeting theft hotspots is that things always move on, but it could work for a while.

There are also places where its common knowledge bikes are sold on. If you can get the police to mark you bike and you happen to locate it you have no chance of getting it back unless you can prove its yours. Ive heard of many poeple buying back bikes that have been stolen.

Sadly, most attempts to control the situation have foundered. Many stolen bikes are now sold via Gumtree and other sites, and it's very difficult to cover all of them. In the past, we found that when Brick Lane Market was targeted, stolen bikes started to pop up at other markets.

Just avoid Hackney.

No, go to Hackney. :)

It is an unfortunate side-effect of a high level of cycling that bike theft also rises. Amsterdam has sky-high levels of bike theft, for instance. Attempts to deal with it by registering bikes etc. initially seemed very successful, roughly halving theft, but it appears to have crept up again, probably because thieves have adapted (or people felt too safe). It is a very thorny problem to deal with.

Hi peers,

Please help me find my missing bike. Someone stole it from southhampton street, opposite The North Face shop last nite, Tuesday 14.08.2012. According to the London M Police 4 other bikes were stolen from the same place on the same night.

The bike registration number is ZE 08, so if you come accross a beautiful blue De Rosa Milanino 2011 please let me know.

Many Thanks

Kind Regards
Marianna

There are certain areas in e.g Hackney that are bike theft hotspots. There should be some way of sharing this information with others online. There used to be a google maps mash up of bike thefts (i couldnt locate it now) but it was very little used. If people shared when they had bike/parts stolen you could build up a picture of the most risky places to leave a bike. There are also places where its common knowledge bikes are sold on. If you can get the police to mark you bike and you happen to locate it you have no chance of getting it back unless you can prove its yours. Ive heard of many poeple buying back bikes that have been stolen.

It's a really good idea. I work in web development and I'd love to explore something which surfaces issues like this, or at least try to do something as opposed to nothing other than, oh my bike has gone (again)

Worth looking into at work.

Has anybody registered their bike with kryptonite in case it gets stolen (or climed from them) ? I looked at doing it when I first got my lock but never got round to it.

Has anybody registered their bike with kryptonite in case it gets stolen (or climed from them) ? I looked at doing it when I first got my lock but never got round to it.

[ NO but want to, just not sure which Kryptonite to go for.....anyone got a Kryptonite New York 3000 and is it any good.....if not can anyone suggest one please?]