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@deleted
Here is the long and short of it. Markm updated the stolen bikes thread with the gumtree ad. I was busy moving a 300kg surface table, so wasn't near my computer, and by the time I was finished I was so tired, I decided to sack off any computer work and go home.
Fortunately, Rogan saw markm's message and had the presence of mind to email me to see if I had seen it. I was however going to ignore emails until 10pm, as my daughter is in a particularly aggressive mood towards the dog at the moment, so didn't want to split my attention between the her and the computer (she's 18 months, still at an acceptable age to beat up dogs). CSB.
Fortunately, my daughter has worked out how to unlock my phone, so when the email from Rogan came, she opened it. I snatched the phone off her, as she has already broken 2 iphones and an htc one in her short time with us, and I saw the fantastic news.
I found the ad, phoned the smack head who had the bike, arranged to meet him to collect it, using my poshest, non-old bill voice. I phoned the very ugly owner of the very ugly bike and told him the news, he was pleased, but not in London. This made getting the police involved problematic. I phoned a boy of the blue variety who is a friend of mine, who suggested I go down there with a friend, and when I went to the aforementioned crack head he was to phone the police and anonymously report a youth attempting to steal someones bike using force. Whilst this was happening, I would just have to ensure that he didn't leave, or if he did, I had the bike. When the police turned up, it would be a case of he said/he said, the bike would get impounded and we could argue the toss at our leisure.
However, before we could begin this sordid deception, and unbeknownst to me, his older brother had phoned the CID who was dealing with the burglary, on hearing that we had found the bike, he told the brother to meet him at the RVP and he would be there with many colleagues. Sure enough, within half an hour the meet was arranged, the scumbag arrived avec Bob Jackson reynolds 631, AND 20 gears AND skinny tyres. He was promptly swarmed on by the met's finest, chucked in the back of a van, and the ugly bike handed back to my ugly friend.
Although we did do most of the leg work, and probably in part because it was the proceeds of a burglary, but I was astounded and incredibly impressed with how they dealt with the whole thing.
I am also incredibly grateful and impressed by Markm, who not only found the bike, but has waived his reward, and asked for it to be given to charity of a cycling variety.
I am in discussion with him at the moment as to exactly who it will go to.
Could I ask you please to spread rep to both Rogan and Markm for bringing this massage to a happy ending.
Hippy, this is for you: