Birds reclaim stolen bike shocker. Pls Advise

My friend tillier had her bike 'Marcellin' stolen from outside the Richmix Cinema in September see thread here... http://www.londonfgss.com/thread29204.html
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It has just been spotted about 30 mins ago locked up outside Strada on Commercial St. There is no disguising that this is Tillier's bike, minus the change of colour, it still has the same old headset, and my old back wheel which I sold her. NO parts have been changed so likelihood is this person either nicked (admittedly, doubtful) or just bought it complete.

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We have locked the shit out of the bike and left a number to call when they come back to the bike. Tillier has pre called the police just in case we get into a bit of a ruccas...Uhm, anything else we need to think about ?

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calling a few friends to come and enjoy the next bit?

and saying "INYOURFACE!!!!!" of course..

Oooh, good work. Keep us posted of progress (and have the photos available when you're there, which I expect you already do have).

oooh it is exciting isn't it. I may pull up a chair on the roadside and a buy a bag of popcorn for the entertainment to follow...

set fire to it. That'll show 'em.

throw a mountain bike at their head.

wow, it has been resprayed.

do you have proof of purchase for the bike? same thing happened to a friend in hoxton square, he got two cops to help him confront the new 'owner' who claimed to not have known it was stolen when he bought it from brick lane market, the cops had to let him ride off with it because my friend didnt have proof of purchase.

If it was me i'd saw through the lock and take it back, or physically take it back when it gets unlocked

risers pointing downwards?

if the bike owner has anything to do with Strada the chain is probably drenched in cheap olive oil.

do you have proof that the bike is your friends. receipts, photo's, frame identifying numbers etc
make sure you get those to hand, so when the police come when the ruckus starts you can prove without a doubt that the bike is yours. so they can't wiggle out it.

apart from that, good luck.

ha! that sign is hilarious.

anyone in the area should head down

Yeah, unlock your locks, but keep a close eye on the bike from a safe distance. as soon as it's unlocked, take it back!

Video would be good.

If you've got frame numbers and the like from when it was reported stolen you should be ok.

Good luck!!

Get someone with an angle grinder to free the bike. If it is the person who nicked it, there's a good chance that they'll see the note and abandon it. I can't see them wanting to hang around for a barney or a cuffing. In fact if it was bought Brick Lane style they'll probably abandon it at the first sign of trouble.

Yeah, unlock your locks, but keep a close eye on the bike from a safe distance. as soon as it's unlocked, take it back!

If you do this, get a chainbreaker and remove the chain. It'll be much easier to catch them this way.

So how do birds fit into all of this anyway? Vigilante pigeons?

I'm gonna get someone to take a pic of me standing with my bike on my cameraphone for reasons like this!

Best of luck. stand ur ground. if the police get involved without any proof, tellthem they other guy locked it up after you and is trying a con job!

If you do this, get a chainbreaker and remove the chain. It'll be much easier to catch them this way.

They might not be willing to unlock it if they see somebody has tampered with the chain. If you are forced to break the lock, then you may have an to deal with the police, which IMO is definitely not worth at as breaking a lock never looks good.

Thing is - Tillier phoned the police when it was stolen and they said there was nothing they could do because the CCTV outside the cinema doesn't film where the bike racks are note to all people going to Richmix...however we have photos of tillier on the bike during summer etc etc . Frame was an old one purchased in France.

take original pics, the stolen report and frame number....

then burn them for painting it baby blue.

hahaha good on you!!! Try and capture some on video for us if you can :)

Every cloud.. and all that.

Well done!!

it looks a lot different now, though, you may have problems convincing the police that it is the same bike! It's best to deal with this yourself

They might not be willing to unlock it if they see somebody has tampered with the chain. If you are forced to break the lock, then you may have an to deal with the police, which IMO is definitely not worth at as breaking a lock never looks good.

Goodpoint

In which case drive a pin so it's barely holding. First pedal stroke and the chain will ship over to top to the ground and you'll have a confused and immobile person to confront.