Its not everyday you hear of success stories when bikes go missing..
3 bikes were stolen back in november from my buddies place in Redhill, an sx trail, pinnacle dirtjumper and an old chameleon singlespeed.
on friday randomly came across gumtree ad in brighton offering a pinnacle dirtjump bike with “maveric rims and xtm cranks” that looked almost identical in every way to my friends ride..
me and two other mates replyed to the add and asked to come view it, making out like we were genuine buyers. eventually he gave his adress and we went round to identify it the next morning.
the seller was a weed smoking part time DJ who had bought it of a guy who comes to his nightclub (belive that or not).
we gave him the option of just walking away with the bike, or getting the police round, which he chose the latter.
brighton police were keen to come round, and the PC on duty was an mtb’er too so was really helpful. they cuffed and arrested the seller on suspision of handling stolen goods and took him and the bike to the station, for statments as to where he aquired the bike.
the bike is now back with its very happy rightful owner.
we may now have picked up the scent for the remaining two bikes.
backround info here
sx trail