Stolen bikes

Samanthah, report the theft to police. Go armed with as many details as you can remember (hope you have the frame number--crucial!) The police have a very good registration system for bike theft, in which they can enter a lot of detail.

Ask the police if it's still possible to register your bike on immobilise.com after the theft--I'm not actually sure it is, but if you have pictures of it and you can convince them that it's yours it might just work. But again, frame number is essential so that the police can track it if recovered.

There is a chance that the police have heard of the way in which this gang operates--it sounds as if people are delivered by car and then ride off, with the driver perhaps ferrying the tools to and fro. Quite often, you find that thieves are known offenders.

Post up pictures on here. It sounds from what Tim's saying as if you have some distinctive parts on there, which may make it trackable for the technoheads on here who can analyse a bike's parts in three milliseconds when it's being ridden past them.

This sounds like the sort of theft where the bikes might still be on Brick Lane today? How long does the market operate? Or would it appear somewhere else, or at BL next week?

Samanthah, report the theft to police. Go armed with as many details as you can remember (hope you have the frame number--crucial!) The police have a very good registration system for bike theft, in which they can enter a lot of detail.

Ask the police if it's still possible to register your bike on immobilise.com after the theft--I'm not actually sure it is, but if you have pictures of it and you can convince them that it's yours it might just work. But again, frame number is essential so that the police can track it if recovered.

There is a chance that the police have heard of the way in which this gang operates--it sounds as if people are delivered by car and then ride off, with the driver perhaps ferrying the tools to and fro. Quite often, you find that thieves are known offenders.

Post up pictures on here. It sounds from what Tim's saying as if you have some distinctive parts on there, which may make it trackable for the technoheads on here who can analyse a bike's parts in three milliseconds when it's being ridden past them.

This sounds like the sort of theft where the bikes might still be on Brick Lane today? How long does the market operate? Or would it appear somewhere else, or at BL next week?

Oliver Schick - The Thief Taker

Hi Tim!
Yes that is the one. Thank you for the info...

and no i did not get the reg, and no i do not have insurance.
boo hoo

you do have the serial number of the bike, right?

Belatedly found this thread. And so my debut post chiz chiz. (I was the guy with the 'tache and hunting pink waistcoat at the tweed ride if anyone wants to put a face to me).

Between 7 and 9.30 last Tuesday evening while I was in The Gunmakers (highly recommended for quality beer BTW) my Fuji Track was nicked from Clerkenwell Road (the racks just outside the Duke).

Size 56cm. Original tyres miraculously unpunctured, original rubbish saddle, cross stop lever on right bar, front Tiagra brake, mount for Cat Eye rear light, grey Crank Bros Smarty pedals (yes, I know).

Not the crime of the century, but extremely irritating. No doubt long gone now, but if anyone does spot it...

my mate had his charge plug stolen last wednesday after free-locking in a locked (but shared) bike room in his apartment block, nr columbia rd.

pretty standard blue 2007 plug: with spdl sl pedals, black specialized saddle w black seatpost. rest OTP. size must be about 56cm or so.

gumtree, bricklane etc... will be watched but if anyone sees one for sale, would appreciate a PM. (my mate lent it to me last summer for 5 mths whilst he travelled, and it got me back into cycling so going to try and help him out as much as poss.)

"free-locking"?

Balki: locking to itself rather than to an immovable object. A daft idea on the street, but probably pretty routine in a bike-storage room unless the freeholder has gone to the trouble of providing lots of racks or anchors.

I see... so it just cant be ridden. I guess if its in a cage

Oliver - thank you for the help!
I went to Brick Lane yesterday afternoon around 5pm. But it is probably in someone's basement till next weekend.
This was definitely an organised crime, with the thieves cruising round looking for opportunities. I bet they stole a few yesterday. The boy who jumped in the car had a big cable cutting tool.

sam did you use a d lock or a chain ?
Just out of curiosity

it was a chain - not a bad one either

Oliver - thank you for the help!
I went to Brick Lane yesterday afternoon around 5pm. But it is probably in someone's basement till next weekend.
This was definitely an organised crime, with the thieves cruising round looking for opportunities. I bet they stole a few yesterday. The boy who jumped in the car had a big cable cutting tool.

You're very welcome! What did the police say, if you've already been in touch with them? I'm curious as to whether they might know the gang.

i left my puch overnight in spitalfieds, came back to on sunday afternoon to find it still there, miraculously fully intact.
so i left it there and went to get a takeaway nandos and some fucknut pitched the saddle. bum.

ps. hiya steff

A forum member just sent me a PM, and said they saw My bike being sold on Brick Lane between 2-3pm by the two kids.
I had not mentioned it had Christoper straps, and that was something he spotted.

Cant believe they must have just rode straight to the market.
So anyone know someone who bought a Charge from Brick Lane yesterday?!

sam, i'm really sorry to hear it. do you have any pictures or can you describe any other distinctive features that might help us spot it?

That's a bugger, Sam. Still make that report. It wouldn't be the first time a bike that was stolen and re-sold turned up, although admittedly the likelihood is not that great. It is interesting to know how quickly this works. Do inform the market officers, too--I remember that one of them is called Martin Aston, and you should find the info if you search for that name on here. I suspect that there's nothing that they don't already know about how the market operates, but some more cases might be useful for them in taking their work on bike theft forward. It's currently excellent, as I understand it, but understandably pretty reactive.

Hi guys, I'm back, another bike gone! Again from outside The Golden Hart! Yesterday 4-5pm. Two bikes in two months (My charge plug Racer was taken just before xmas) It was a Fuji Track 56cm with a Brookes saddle, I have the frame number this time. Any advice please, please plese?!

Does anyone just fancy hanging around Brick Lane on a Sunday with me and just lynching people that have a track bike in one hand and a can of Special Brew in the other?

hi Painter, read the thread above from me - i wonder if it was the same guys going for round two!
it makes me want to move to New Zealand

Bad luck Pantercom - what lock was it + what was it locked to please..?

Oliver has posted some advice up there ^^^^^^^ for you. Get it reported.

Hi guys, I had two of these

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/abus/millennio-phantom-895-185-lock-ec009038

My Charge Plug Racer in December had the lock cut and left round a lamp post and with my Fuji Track there was nothing left over whatsoever. I'm sure both were listed on Gumtree too so I've just been in touch with them about their Sellers privacy policy as this fella - http://www.gumtree.com/london/60/35127760.html - has listed five times with the same number (http://tinyurl.com/chv67j) but different names. In fact they just called back and are sending me all their info tomorrow. It's handy having and email address at a national newspaper!

dude you could cut that with scissors.

kiddies seem to be a bit bored during half term

That is a good point dogs but this was in daylight and the traffic through that point is pretty heavy I'm pretty amazed.

east london my friend. sorry, but you're doing something wrong to get 2 bikes stolen.

Does anyone just fancy hanging around Brick Lane on a Sunday with me and just lynching people that have a track bike in one hand and a can of Special Brew in the other?

I'd offer to keep you company on Sunday but normally walk down Brick lane with a track bike and a can of beer.
Make sure you have frame #s with you (and photos if possible).