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.
Don't do this, you'll look and sound a prat. Besides which, I'm fairly certain that Hebden Bridge won't have 10 officers free; they'll likely send a PCSO who has limited knowledge of S.22 of the theft act.
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.
Or, phone the Police and tell them that the bike you previously reported as stolen has turned up at a local charity shop. They will then update the original incident, update the Officer in the Case, or create a new incident for someone else to have a look at. This might not be within 30 minutes like some people expect, but hey, nobody's dying so its not that urgent. The Police, with dwindling resources, have to prioritise just like any other organisation. As a tax payer, we should all be thankful this happens; it means some Police remain available for serious and life threatening incidents.
Also go to the bike shop and take photo's of the bike in their shop.
.
Do this if you like but your word and proof of ownership are enough.
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.
No not really. Try to look at this from a common sense perspective (which, if you were in the shoes of the bike shop owner you'd want); unless this bike is quite unique, and unless the shop was given photos, frame numbers etc. It is quite conceiveable that its 'just another old bike' they've been given by someone to re-cycle. If Taka told them a month ago about its theft, and unless it is unique, and depending on who they told, its a bit of a stretch for the shop to be held accountable.
Yes, the owner could be arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, but the Police/CPS would have to demonstrate that the bike shop "knew or believed" it to be stolen, and still received or retained, or tried to sell it with this knowledge. In this case this would need a full and frank confession from the shop owner - do you think this will happen?
Is it legal to arrest the shop owner? Yes, the Police have suspicion that he is handling stolen goods.
Is it reasonable to arrest a charity shop owner? Possibly - do you think he's going to abscond on the proceeds? Ok, possibly not.
Is it neccessary to arrest him, or can it be dealt with in a different manner? Erm, of course its not neccessary; the Police speaking to him will likely get to the bottom of it and may even point to the actual thieves.
