If a bike was stolen and the insurance paid out for it and then a number of years later it was spotted by the original owner what is the best approach assuming the owner still wanted the bike?

Assumption 1 The original owner could get it from the current owner should he:

a) Get it and keep it
b) Tell the police and wait for them to get it
c) Tell the insurance company and wait for them to get it
d) Get it and give it to the insurance company and then ask/buy it back off them
e) Walk away from the situation

D is the right answer, E is the best answer.

Onzadog is right.

Police recovered a mates stolen Spa Ti Audax frame – took several months to identify it as his despite his contact details on a custom stem cap – and his insurers told him to keep it. He now has a geared version and singlespeed version from the recovered frame.

that depends on how many times it has changed hands since it was stolen and if it got shifted via a seller like cash converters who are notorious for accepting stolen goods

if the current keeper says that they bought it from someone else then they will claim to have bought it in good faith…as a result the insurer will no longer have a solid claim as it will enter a civil process called an interpleader

this will happen if you choose option B
option C wont happen as even though they have paid out for it thy wont be bothered by it now and wont bother with trying to get it back themselves

if you go for A then follow up with D to cover yourself

or just go for E

If you know they are the low life that knicked it arrange for them to have a visit from the BOYS .

had a similar thing. Unless you have a vested interest then th answer is e

c/d and hope they just say keep it.