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@hms
Bike Karma?
So, I lost three bikes last week - see post 9418 upthread. I've been watching Bikeshd.co.uk but wasn't holding out much hope.
Tonight on my way home I went the wrong way down a one-way street coming into Greenwich Park. There was a police car just inside the gate and they pulled me over to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. Fair enough - I knew I was in the wrong and I gave my details properly and accepted the fine.
Now it gets interesting (and relevant to this thread). Just as I was setting off again another cyclist came past pretty slowly. Even with just the quickest of glances I knew the bike he was riding was one of the ones I had lost and I called out to him. He slowed down a bit more and I caught up and grabbed the handlebars. The officer who had just issued the ticket to me was no more than 10 feet away and I called him over and explained the situation. I was able to show him a picture of the bike on my phone and he promptly arrested the guy for handling stolen goods.
The guy said he had bought the bike a couple of days ago on the street from some kids from the nearby estate. Paid £100 for it. Said they only had 1 for sale when he saw them.. He was pretty upset and worried about what would happen to him at the police station. Asked if he couldn't just give it back to me and all be on our way..
I'm pretty sure he is telling the truth and that he isn't the one who took them but what the hell do you expect if you buy bikes off dodgy kids on the street!
Should get the bike back from the police tomorrow - its the one the the orange tyres in post 9418; my fiancee's racer - and hopefully some of the info he gives them about the sellers rings some bells at the police station.
So, a £30 fine but 1 bike back. If I hadn't been stopped I definitely wouldn't have seen it.. : )