Stolen bikes

I've found this thread to be a real wake up call to what is out there and can happen. I regularly read this thread to keep my eyes open for anything reported stolen here.

I've been cycling seriously again for six or so months after a gap of about 25 years, although the odd bike has wandered in and out of my life in that period for a short while. Getting one stolen years ago was the cause of me giving up cycling. Nothing special, probably of little value to anyone else but it was mine.

In the last few months I've been able to draw four main observations of how cycling in London has changed.

1. Road surfaces are no better today.

2. Today's cars are much easier to drive, more comfort and more distractions with mobile 'phones etc.

Because of these points, I try to avoid main roads and take side roads, tow paths and parks wherever possible, but some of these can be no go areas at certain times of the day. So it is often a balance between poor main roads and indifferent driving against the likelihood of trouble on a cut through.

1. People don't care. I came off my bike recently (see Oh Shit moments thread) and whilst it was minor there were people about, none of whom asked if I was OK, even in passing. If someone had been trying to take my bike off me, I'm under no illusion that I would get any assistance.

2. Theft. It seems the best you can do is get two different types of really strong locks, more in the hope that it looks more hassle so some other poor devil is the victim. I'm more or less convinced that you could be really blatant in stealing a bike and nearly everyone would just walk past.

With that I'm off to the shops to buy a substantial chain and lock to supplement my D-lock.

Beautiful geared classic green gazelle with bright red v deep rims and yellow bar tape just ridden past me towards victoria park by someone who did not look like a classic bike enthusiast....

It was with the people at the top of Broadway Market who steal bikes, this afternoon.

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Perhaps they do already? Have you discussed this with Zebra Cyclist or the council?
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i have not... afraid i don't really have the time at the moment to honour the cycling gods. am hoping cycle task force pull their finger out and i get a result... that should provide enough karma to rest a while on.

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So the creator of the missing bike post I think is a match isn't responding to the sites administrators. Cycle Task Force were informed of the frame number and description a week ago and haven't responded to a few follow up emails. I really hope this gets sorted in a week or I will start wondering what I should do...
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urgh. CTF are being shit. a matching bike was *reported * stolen (in London) the day i recovered mine (hers). they had description of the non-standard features, to confirm if the bike is a match, 16 days ago. 10 days ago i chased. 3 days ago i suggested they just pass on my email to the victim to confirm and collect if a match. nothing from them since the 16.

if nothing by next week i'm shifting on as i need the storage space.
Q. SHOULD I...

1. sell the bike and make a *profit (that's *how much you deserve for the hassle and effort)
   
2. sell the bike for the £20 i "paid" for it (someone is getting a bargain, albeit it a little at your expense)
   
3. give the bike away to charity or a stolen bike victim like my neighbour (you were trying to do something good, so do it)
   

feel your pain with the CTF, I dont know whether anyone saw my last couple of posts in here, but I basically got a bike nicked, and then found a couple of ads on gumtree with parts from that bike on, saddle, bars, brake levers, cranks etc.

sent all the info over with pictures for proof that they were my parts, couple of days of communication after a bit of a wait, and I just received this...

''*Elliot, I have made enquires into this advert and have met the seller
at his home address where he stores his pedal cycles. The seller buys
vintage pedal cycles which he does up and sells on, he did buy a gazelle
pedal cycle which was in poor condition and he used parts off that pedal
cycle to make up other bikes he has either sole on or is in the process
of selling on. I have checked the parts he still had remaining and I am
sure that they did not come from your bicycle. The person selling this
bicycle was very open and honest with police.

I am sorry this was not a more positive outcome for you.*''

are you fucking kidding me!? he's admitted to buying my stolen bike, but thats cool and you're going to let him carry on selling the bits of mine that he hasnt managed to yet!?

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Two bikes nicked from the end of Middleton Road at Queensbridge Road, around 4:30pm.

My mates which is the navy Charge Plug with tan leather saddle and matching drops, only real discernible features are some stickers down the seat tube. One of a pink monster and one 'Fabric skateboards'.

...and mine which is a Ribble frame, bright red to bright green fade, black and red striped drops with quick release campy front rim. hoping it causes them some issues as the stem is fused in.
Serve us right for locking em to each other.

Hey, do you know where your Brompton is?

http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/9990169.Police_bid_to_reunite_stolen_bikes_with_their_owners/?ref=eb

Shit news Matty. You probably know already but might be worth checking Brick Lane and other well known markets this weekend to see if they turn up. Didn't realise you had a Ribble. I'll keep my eyes peeled for them.

Cheers mate. Aiye, had it around a year.

Out of curiosity, if I find it at a market, do I ring the police and try to get them to come down?

Out of curiosity, if I find it at a market, do I ring the police and try to get them to come down?

There are usually police patrolling nearby, also Market Inspectors carrying radios and in marked tabards or similar.

If you see your bike, say nothing, but quickly locate a MI or cop. A fruit seller or someone like that should have the number of the market inspectors, and the MIs have the numbers of the nearest cops. Bethnal Green cop-shop is open on Sundays, and is active on bikes.

All this assumes you can prove the bike is yours. If you can't (no folded piece of paper down the seat-tube), then you'll have to bluff. No sellers in street markets like to see cops on their stall, and it makes little difference if the police take the bike until ownership is proved, or the seller gives it back to you, EXCEPT, if the same vendor is having the same problem on his stall every couple of weeks, the police will have a serious word with him about 'receiving stolen goods'.

Without proof you can ask quietly for your bike back, or loudly cuss and do your nut, depending on what you think will work. If the vendor is trying to sell your bike, be loud. The buyer will do one. If you think the vendor will do a runner, try and lock up the bike. Under some circumstances that should be the first thing you should do - sometimes at BL sellers stand some distance away from a hot bike, so they can't be implicated in case of trouble.

At Brick Lane you have to reach early - you see the dirtbags in the cage there stripping down frames and playing 'mix and match' from 8am.

Thanks for the insight Nishiki. If I can say things like, 'I know that the stem is fused in' etc. do you think that would suffice?
Looks like an early one for me on Saturday then, Cheers.

My bike was stolen from outside Waitrose near Old Street. The Big Issue seller outside the shop said he knew who it was and had seen him steal bikes from there before but the police we're interested.

Had my bike stolen from outside The Avery pub in Cambridge last night. It's a fondriest fixie - the only difference to the bike compare to the picture is it now has black stack bolts on the chain ring and a regular chain rather than the half link pictured.

Sorry link didnt seem to work above:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l4apcjbcs83yiyr/Photo%2007-09-2012%2012%2059%2007.jpg

Anyone who's lost a black Brooks saddle recently, I've taken a photo of one which was for sale in Cash Converters at Aldgate.

My bike was stolen yesterday, from my basement in Copenhagen.

Danish handcrafted tornado columbus max frame.

I'm gutted...

I live on Middleton Road so will keep my eyes pealed.

Two bikes nicked from the end of Middleton Road at Queensbridge Road, around 4:30pm.

My mates which is the navy Charge Plug with tan leather saddle and matching drops, only real discernible features are some stickers down the seat tube. One of a pink monster and one 'Fabric skateboards'.

...and mine which is a Ribble frame, bright red to bright green fade, black and red striped drops with quick release campy front rim. hoping it causes them some issues as the stem is fused in.
Serve us right for locking em to each other.

Hello all,
I just had a chat with a very helpful (and I dont say this very often!) police
officer, he's a keen cyclist who had his bike stolen a while back so he knows
how bad it feels, he is personally working on a good project against bike thieves
and to help people receovering their stolen bikes.

He showed me some photos of what he had in the depot and I already spotted one bike
which I helped getting back to its owner, but they have alot of
track bikes, and a good amount of arrospoked bikes which are waiting to be
recovered!

If you get your bike stolen or you had one stolen in the past please contact the
Police on their Twitter page:
#MPSTOWERHAM

For any help you can also speak to me at the shop (brick lane bikes).

Hope this helps,

Peter

mebbe just start a new discussion thread, prob be more focused

My bike was stolen from outside Waitrose near Old Street. The Big Issue seller outside the shop said he knew who it was and had seen him steal bikes from there before but the police we're interested.

Which Waitrose? Had my Felt track bike pinched from outside Waitrose on St John Street earlier today. I also reported to police and they're going to take a full statement. Here's hoping

My lovely Felt TK2 track bike pinched from outside Waitrose on St John Street earlier today. Have reported it to police and they seem interested. Pics attached - decals are actually red rather than orange.

2 Attachments

just got this from Trek bikes UK http://bit.ly/TjAVcf

just saw this on gumtree,

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/found-single-speedfixed-gear-bike/1002289102

Just saw this. Trek will have just learnt their lesson dont leave a van full of new products over night.

http://e.trekbikes.com/public/?q=preview_message&fn=Link&t=1&ssid=357&id=97fd3kg9eks1rxa17xhlprlbcsyem&id2=6f8n24i3at8n4t0dpioo0arc8eulc&subscriber_id=cbxqgcvfishfyowdffxhfuxyvhndbak&messageversion_id=bjyydvmuihzbfyoerzhalqupawrvbkf&delivery_id=agbqatvvxfvscbwduorriaiqekoibph&tid=3.AWU.BrxqSg.CS3s.QYqm..lZCJ.b..l.BAtt.a.UI6h_Q.UI7DvQ.BvYpUQ

Really? I saw that, as it was the last post on the last page.

just saw this on gumtree,

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/found-single-speedfixed-gear-bike/1002289102

Gorgeous Baby Blue, Aerospoks, Brakeless? #worthapunt