What to do if your bike is stolen

marmeladov, you should post about your stolen bike here:

https://www.lfgss.com/thread123.html

Great advice

Got mine insured as an extension on my contents insurance...

An old scrote came onto a Brighton to Bedford train on Sunday afternoon with a hand on a red Cannondale and didn't take it off at his stop before Gatwick. Had a cheap lock and he didn't look like he was dressed for the part. PM for deets.

Some tea leaves hacksawed through my cheap halfords lock and stole my Front wheel and seat off my bike whilst In the gym
Last time I'll ever use a non-sold secure lock.
Anyone know what would be suitable to secure quick release seats/wheels?

Don't use quick releases, full stop. They were invented for fast wheel changes in road races--no point in having them on a town bike.

I had my old road bike stolen out of the garage a few weeks ago, which wasn't too upsetting as I only ride my fixie these days, and they left that alone.

Anyway, we've recently switched to John Lewis for our contents insurance, because it seemed such good value. Our policy includes £200 excess, and a limit of £1000 on bikes, which are insured new-for-old.

So they asked me what was stolen, including upgrades, and priced it all up on a new for old basis, totalling £1700. They then let me choose a replacement bike for the total value, and only charged me the excess. Don't know what happened to the £1000 limit, but I'm not complaining!

All very straightforward, and no quibbling. I'm impressed.

TfL are doing a survey on bike theft:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Cycletheftlondon2013

I find it a little limited, e.g. it only asks about 'your bike' (I mean, who only has one bike?) but perhaps it'll give them some data they can use.

Tower Hamlets Police are now posting photos of stolen bikes on their Twitter account.

Just had my bike stolen outside London college of communication about an hour ago only had my new build a couple of months nd I'm absolutely devestated, but partly at fault for using such a shitty lock until I could afford a Kryptonite. The bikes a Bianchi Pista frame with H+ son wheelset, white risers and white saddle. If anyone sees it could they let the police know or contact me on 07414262264. I've already contacted the police and checked out a few bike shops and pawn shops in the local area.

Thanks, James

Just had my bike stolen outside London college of communication about an hour ago only had my new build a couple of months nd I'm absolutely devestated, but partly at fault for using such a shitty lock until I could afford a Kryptonite. The bikes a Bianchi Pista frame with H+ son wheelset, white risers and white saddle. If anyone sees it could they let the police know or contact me on 07414262264. I've already contacted the police and checked out a few bike shops and pawn shops in the local area.

Thanks, James

James, you should post this in the 'Stolen Bikes' thread--this thread here isn't really for theft reports. Sorry to hear about your loss. Hope you get it back!

Just wanted to write about my experience of having my bike stolen, and how I got it back. It won't work for everybody but I'm sure there's some things people might be able to take away.

My bike was stolen from outside my place of work, in early November last year. It was quite a unique bike (a very expensive folding bike) with SPD pedals, Brooks bar tape and Saddle, and I had recently put on new tires (which ended up helping a lot in its recovery).

The theft was on CCTV and about took place about 15mins before I was going home, so I was quite gutted when it wasn't there to go into the security office and watch the thieves take my bike on the footage. However the footage was rubbish. They wore hoods, and it seems had already prepped the bike earlier in the day. The overall theft only took less than a minute.

I reported the bike as stolen (using the Met Police online thingy) and chalked it up to experience. It was the first bike I've ever had stolen.

I set up automated eBay searches, GumTree, and general google searches, just a precaution. Many similar bikes were listed but not mine. Then about 3 weeks later, it turned up on GumTree, with a different saddle. It was listed for £650 and I went into action. I called the police and they told me that they would look into the matter, but couldn't give me a timescale as to when they would do anything. I found through a little bit of a google search, the Met Police have a Cycle Task force, and got the main email address and started from there.

After a bit of digging (about an hour of searching) I managed to get the name and contact details of most of the Cycle Task force. I found out that they were all unavailable that day, as they were doing a major bust that night, and were prepping for that. I was told not to make contact with the seller, but if I did, I should under no circumstances go and try to get the bike back. Instead I should let the police go. I immediately made contact, and arranged a time and place to meet. I went back to the police and told that either I would be appropriating my bike with a baseball bat, or they could go and get it for me. They offered to go.

I met up at a Police station, and handed my phone over. They had a van ready with about 8 officers inside. We checked out the listing and I was able to confirm the bike was mine, due to the collection of modifications and photos of my 72yr old dad riding it. Unfortunately they went to get the bike, but the seller didn't show. They think he got spooked, but we didn't give up.

We tried a variety of different phone numbers and arranged a few different meets. In the meantime, I was following the guy's various listings on Gumtree and the mobile phone numbers he was using. The police had contacted the mobile providers and were arranging the location/address details.

In the meantime the guy listed a few more bikes, which I guessed were stolen too and the price for mine was dropping. It was then that the mobile operators returned with the location/address details, and the police found that with a bit of surveillance there was a lockup, full of bikes, of which mine was one.

They then told me they were going to bust/raid a number of properties associated with the lockup and my bike. That was about a three weeks after I'd first made contact with the police, and the next day I got an email to say they have my bike.

We arranged a collection, it was covered in fingerprint dust, and I had to bring proof that it was mine, photos, receipts for bits etc. They also had a room of other bikes that were confiscated in the raid, which they were trying to return to their owners. I was shown photos, and asked if I knew four men, who were found with my bike, and arrested in connection with the theft. Currently, they're awaiting trial.

The Police were great, however it was really frustrating at first to get them to do anything. It also helps if you tell them that your bike is worth a lot of money (mine would have been £1799 new) and that you have lots of evidence to prove its yours. Also, keep searching for it. Mine took 3 weeks to turn up on GumTree, with a different saddle, but the rest was the same.

Good post. With the number of bikes stolen in London, the police obviously have to prioritise, but in your case it sounds like a major affair. It's nice to read of this outcome.

Judging from the amount of bikes in the basement of the building where I went to collect mine, its a hell of a lot of bikes stolen. They did say they had a lot of issues with people just not reporting their bikes stolen and thus they can't return them. Also, people being who aren't able to identify their bike is apparently a problem too.

They advised customising your bike in any way so you can easily identify it. Mine, had bar tape, bottle cage, saddle (which was changed) different tires, and various marks which made it undoubtedly mine. Also, having photographs really helped too.

And its also about not giving up. I was initially told there was little they could do, but after I explained that I would be retrieving my bike with a baseball bat, they decided they would be able to sort out a few Officers for me that evening. And following the unsuccessful meet, the bike was listed 3 more times and I hassled them to arrange more meetings each time.

Since that episode, I've now found my rear light on eBay, and I'm still waiting for my Brooks saddle to turn up. The police are currently investigating the light person as they seem to have a lot of random bicycle bits appearing.

The important bit I would say is that nobody should EVER go and get their bike back by themselves. The people who had mine were also arrested with quantities of drugs, and various other illegal things, and charged with weapon possession. The police said that the organised people who steal and sell bikes are quite dodgy in general and the bike side of their business is the easy cash part.

Great post with loadsa useful and encouraging info there. Thanks. I know about the Taskforce which the Met has spent a great deal on of time and resources on in recent months/years.
I have had two bikes nicked and never let mine out this time. Twice bitten, thrice shy!

I returned to my flat yesterday after being away for a couple of days to find that my bike and both Kryptonite locks were gone.
It was locked in the bike shed outside my complex. It was always the only one in there as everyone else who lives around here has fancy automobiles.

It was a blue 2013 Charge Plug Prestige with cross-top brake levers instead of the drop mounted ones. I know it's not the most unique of bikes but I knew every single inch of it and loved the bastard.

Rang the police with the details including the serial number and they're sending someone over tomorrow, although I'm not holding my breath on it being recovered.

Thankfully it was insured and once I have a crime number I should be able to get it replaced.

What I want to know is should I go for another Charge Plug Prestige - a bike I loved in terms of ride, geometry, aesthetic - or is there anything out there similar but better that someone can suggest?
Insurance should be around £600.

Great post!

arranged to view it & informed the police who said they could do nothing without proof it was our bike.

Lesson of the day; Write down your frame number.

^ frame numbers FTW, saved me!

stolen! fucking stolen. condor 531c frame 56cm. it looks alot more ratty than this..... touring wheels and mudguards. i want it back!

my bike has been returned. saw a very weatherd guy riding it today. he gave it back without any fuss. i am over the moon.

Just seen this on facebook, may be useful to some: Attention all those who have had their bike stolen in Hackney in recent times.

The Leabridge Safer Neighbourhood team have today recovered over 250 bikes and bike parts, along with arresting 2 people. Tomorrow they will be releasing dates of an Open Day for identification of the stolen bikes. It will be publicised on their Twitter account @MPSHackney we will also try to post it here. Lets hope some local residents can be reunited with their stolen bikes, pedal or wheels!

Well done to our local Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Anyone had a tt bike nicked? http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/cervelo-p3-carbon-shimano-dura-ace-54-cm-lambeth-london-650/1016236795

my bike has been returned. saw a very weatherd guy riding it today. he gave it back without any fuss. i am over the moon.

Great news! Where did you spot him? And what was the bike?