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My file was closed 24 hrs after it was opened due to lack of leads to investigate. Its the same standard wording that I got last year when my bike got nicked. I reported it to both hackney and islington police- it was on the border betw the two. Both closed it and one islington officer told me that the same team investigating bike crime also investigates 'serious' theft and robbery and a bike was not high up his list of priorities. I would guess that if a car worth over £1000 got stolen he would investigate its whereabouts. In addtion there was a CCTV camera overlooking the post it was locked to, which was why i bothered to report it to both boroughs. Both police forces told me they would not be looking thro the CCTV as thats not something they do!

In relation to the CTF, Im sure they do a lot and Im sure they are as underfunded and over stretched as most public bodies. However I do think that if you tackle places like broadway market, kingsland rd waste, etc and follow up reports of stolen bikes on gum tree for example, you would find 'gangs' of theives selling. As it stands bike theft is probably one of those most lucrative high cash career moves going. I dont think a team of 12 or 30 is big enough. Obviously I would support it if it increased in size and presence.

As it goes, I think Ive just seen my bike on gum tree. I rang the police to tell them. they advised me not to go and no, they would not be investigating it despite the fact that dude selling wont give me his name, or number, wants to meet at a station only, no test drive allowed and view to buy with cash only. If that isnt blatently hot property I dont know what is.

Not sure I understand why the file was closed? Did you report it to another section of the police first? Then what happened to close the file?

I can't comment on your individual case, as I obviously don't know what happened there, but I know for a fact that the CTF certainly do a lot, and you're being unfair in suggesting that they do 'nothing'. I can understand that, as it seems to have been a frustrating conversation, but you're still wrong about that. They have a string of success stories, and a lot of people have had very satisfying experiences with their work.

The last I heard was that the CTF were 30 officers, although that is of course still not a lot for the whole of London, and their focus on gangs is a future-proof strategy that I would wholeheartedly support. I'm sure they'd be the first to admit that, like most people, they can't get everything right, but it is best for us to support them as strongly as we can so that they get more resources to intensify their work. The existence of the CTF is one thing that is changing the focus of policing in London. I'm sure you welcome that, too, and that one bad experience won't change this.

Following my amazing bike being stolen, I tried to refer the theft to the task force team. Firstly they wouldn't deal with it as police had closed file day after theft. After hassling them, I was told that there are 12 officers for the whole of London, that they dont investigate individual bike theft, but are only concerned with organised teams of bike thieves. I did point out the stupidity of his statement. I also suggested they hang out at Broadway market every sat morn. He said they don't have the staff for it.
He said they also have the important task of making sure cyclists cycle safely around London.
Wtf do they do? oh yes nothing.

The e-mail address and phone number are in the original post here:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread52193.html

Did you read that thread?

Tim, I'm not sure whether they want Titus' personal contact details posted on-line. Things might not be picked up if he's not on duty. dicki was given the other mobile number to call. You might want to edit that.

I've just added something to the other thread about being cautious about posting on-line when you've found your stolen bike on Gumtree or elsewhere, following Rowhan's experience.

@bashredford
you didnt happen to see a white/red cannodale down there for sale did you?

yep, just ordered a fagheddaboudit for replacement bike. thanks for tips

yep

granite steel-o-flex. small and tight to the post. bike was the cannondale above.

yep just had my bike nicked with an abus and it was obviously super easy for the fukers with bolt croppers to get thro.