A bike shop is selling a bike I had stolen a month or so back its nothing amazing but its my dads only means of transport within an hour of it being nicked both bike shops in the area were informed to keep a lookout for it if it turns up and a week ago I walked past one of them and its there in the window for £60 but they won't give him it back because they've put different brakes on it because the original were "crap" and wanted the police to get involved before anything happens the police have been informed twice and contacted another two times since to see what's happening but they couldn't give a toss what are we supposed to do or do I get it...
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Bike Forum
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bike shop selling my stolen bike what to do?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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Go in, take the brakes off, wheel it out. Phone thr police when you're there and tell them what you are doing.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Has to be the police - sorry! Try to find out if there is any officer at all, with the remotest interest in bikes on your local force.
Otherwise, you'll just have to keep ringing them, insisting they act, until you become too much of a PITA to ignore.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Phone them while in the shop and tell them your recovering your stolen property
And name and shame the shop on here for selling stolen bikes...Posted 1 year ago # -
For a start, if you spoken to them and asked nicely for you bike back,and they are knowingly selling stolen goods, start by naming and shaming here?
Crap situation, hopefully someone will post some way of kicking the police up the arse to actually do something to help.
Posted 1 year ago # -
tell the local press
Posted 1 year ago # -
Get a mate to ask to have a look at it, and test ride it if possible.
Then just get him to ride off with it, doing a one handed wheelie, while waving at the bloke from the shop.
Posted 1 year ago # -
can you prove it is your dads bike? that's the important bit.
Posted 1 year ago # -
assuming you can, police, local press, make yourself a nuisance.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd be going into that shop and covering my bike in some great big locks for a kick off. Stop them selling it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
what shop, its not a small one in Headingley, is it?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Make a formal complaint to the police. If you've contacted them 4 times to tell them it's there and they haven't done anything yet, then complain. To an Inspector or above.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Playing devils advocate, they have said they won't do anything without the police involved which I don't think is unreasonable. If they have taken it off sale and are still awaiting notification from the police I think this is fair.
I would perhaps call the police whilst stood in the shop with the bike and explain the score, see what they suggest you do.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Don't suppose you've got the frame number?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Phone the police and tell them that in 30 minutes you are going to the shop to reclaim your stolen bike using whatever force is necessary. You can guarantee there will 10 officers there waiting for you when you arrive.
Seriously I would ask to speak to someone more senior and tell them that you will be writing to your MP, the Chief Constable, the local press and the chairman of the Police Authority to inform them of their ineptitude and disinterest in dealing with a crime. You will probably get a call back in no time.
Also go to the bike shop and take photo's of the bike in their shop.
Given that the shop had been warned of the theft prior to buying it and trying to sell it on, they are surely blatantly handling stolen goods.
Posted 1 year ago # -
what about buying it and then taking them to the small claims court for the £60?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Its cyclerecycle in hebden bridge essentially arnt they handling stolen goods? And vandalising my property?
Posted 1 year ago # -
arnt they handling stolen goods?
They may well have bought it in good faith. Just cos you told them to look out for it doesn't mean that news got passed to the Saturday boy who stumped up the cash for it to the thieving scum.
However once notified that it's yours, they should take it off sale pending resolution from the police. The shop are probably just trying to protect their investment so until you can show up with proof that it's your bike they're probably not being *that* unreasonable. But they should still take it off sale even if they don't just hand it back saying "here you go, sorry about that"
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes they are handling stolen goods.
And now you have told them about it, they can't say they didn't know anything (although that's no excuse really anyway)
As mentioned above, Complain to someone more senior at your local nick.
Tell them you will be contacting the local press, local MP and the IPCC if they don't act on your complaint.
Also tell the bike shop the same. (the local press bit may make them think again ?)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Don't second hand shops have to get a copy of passport/driving licence etc from the person they buy goods from, and check stolen goods lists??
Posted 1 year ago # -
That's very active recycling if someone has nicked a bike in order to donate it to them.
http://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/npt/area.asp?id=111
This has a named inspector on your neighbourhood policing team. That might be your best tack rather than just calling the station.
You just missed the golden opportunity though...
"Surgery at Hebden Bridge Library
A new surgery/drop in has been set up at the library in Hope Street. Please call in on Friday, 16 December 2011 (and each Friday after that) between 10 – 11 am where you can speak to your local Officers. "
Posted 1 year ago # -
Shame that there is no telephone number of their website!!!
Remember to avoid any assault but do take a video and post the next conversation!!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
you've got to wonder what's going on here haven't you... i mean we're getting one side of a story via a forum. the business concerned recycles bikes, they even have a link to the west yorkshire police on their site...
Posted 1 year ago # -
They may well have bought it in good faith. Just cos you told them to look out for it doesn't mean that news got passed to the Saturday boy who stumped up the cash for it to the thieving scum.
However once notified that it's yours, they should take it off sale pending resolution from the police. The shop are probably just trying to protect their investment so until you can show up with proof that it's your bike they're probably not being *that* unreasonable. But they should still take it off sale even if they don't just hand it back saying "here you go, sorry about that"
This ^ Anybody else spouting crap about just take it, etc. etc. is just nonsense, go to the police explain the situation, don't take the law into your own hands.....
Posted 1 year ago # -
Isn't Ben at Cycle Recycle a mate of a few at STW Towers?
Maybe they can help.
Posted 1 year ago # -
They're a not-for-profit, AFAIK they sell the bikes just to fund the efforts to keep serviceable bikes out of landfill and give folks who're short of a skill the chance to gain spannering work experience and qualifications. Also, AFAIK they don't buy bikes, they just recondition donated wrecks.
...Maybe your theif realised the bike wasn't worth much and dumped it, someone found it and gave it to a good cause?
Who did you speak to there? Not everyone will necessarily have all the info or be in a sufficient position of authority to feel like they can sort this out to both your satisfaction...
Edit: Yep, Ninja, Ben is a top bloke and the guy to speak to at CycleRecycle to get anything done! - I can't believe he'd not get this resolved.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I know Ben who runs cyclerecycle and im 100% sure he wont knowingly sell stolen bikes!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Not condoning the theft and selling of stolen bikes but is there not a middle ground here some where. I cant see that they are doing this for profit and have unwittingly become victims themselves. The fact that they have got your dads old bike back and it has been worked on may be worth something I would have thought.
Don't get me wrong I would be hacked off in your shoes as well but I reckon a deal could easily be agreed.
It would be nice though if the person who "donated it" could be traced.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Edit: Yep, Ninja, Ben is a top bloke and the guy to speak to at CycleRecycle to get anything done! - I can't believe he'd not get this resolved.
I know Ben who runs cyclerecycle and im 100% sure he wont knowingly sell stolen bikes!
^Agreed
Posted 1 year ago # -
If you can prove it's your dads bike.
How about offering to pay for the brake upgrade, and take the bike back.
That way they are not out of pocket (if they don't buy the bikes) and your dad has a safer bike.
Posted 1 year ago # -
you want the bike back? easy!
Its their busiest time of year so get yourself down there tommorow morning, stand on the pavement right outside.
Then while not blocking the entrance tell everyone who even looks at the shop that they sell stolen bikes and point ouy your dads bike.
I bet you get the bike back complete with a complimentary set of new brakes within about 2 hours!
sorted
Posted 1 year ago # -
How about offering to pay for the brake upgrade, and take the bike back.
as much as i like bike recycling projects (i've volunteered in one for a few months whilst out of work), there's no way i would 'pay' to get my bike back, regardless of where its from and what its had done to it.
he didn't ask for it to be stolen, and didn't ask for the 'crap' brakes to be upgraded...
(all this is assuming it can be proved to be his, of course)
Posted 1 year ago # -
This ^ Anybody else spouting crap about just take it, etc. etc. is just nonsense, go to the police explain the situation, don't take the law into your own hands.....
Having said that when I phoned the local police station in the past on a similar issue, they said if you see your bike you can use reasonable force to recover it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
they won't give him it back because they've put different brakes on it because the original were "crap" and wanted the police to get involved before anything happens
I think the keyboard warriors are missing something here, even the shop want the police involved according to the OP, it sounds to me like they are victims too. If they had bought a known stolen bike would they want the police involved??
Posted 1 year ago # -
If the shop are prepared to not sell the bike while the situation is sorted fine - then go down that road. If they won't then I think going and putting a serious lock or two on it to stop it being sold is fine.
You are going to have to badger the police into acting tho I think
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.
