Just out walking the dog down a lane at the back of some houses when I came across an all right bike that’s been abandoned!!!!!

Too nice to just for somebody to just leave there so I phone the rozzers on 101.

Me: Hello mr rozzer phone person. I think I’ve just come across a stolen bike that’s been abandoned. When I had my bike stolen to order the policeman who came round said thieves often dump bikes when they run out of space in a van and get better alternatives. Anyway that’s by the by it’s here. It’s a decent full suspension bike, looks pretty new, etc.

Mr rozzer phone person on 101: Sorry we don’t do anything about stolen bikes, take it home and if nobody claims after 28 days you can keep it isn’t that good.

Me: No, I think it’s somebodys and they might want it back.

Mr rozzer phone person: It’s unlikely we can trace the frame number and isn’t really worth the time. Take it home and hopefully you can keep it.

Me: Thanks……

😯

Yes, that is properly annoying.

Rachel

Wow. Not very reassuring, is it…

So, you stole an alley bike in the end?

Pop it on gumtree and see if the owner notices it?

very disappointing, but very sadly, very believable.

put up images of it then someone might recognize it.

I assume you have it at home now?

Be careful where you touch (just in case they do decide to act).

I suspect you have been speaking to one of the people at the Police who gives them all a bad reputation. Would be worth calling your local force in the morning and seeing if someone will come out – even if it’s just a community officer. We have had a similar response and then the following week had the officer who actually deals with this area call us up as she had seen the log and she was furious at the response we had and dealt with the problem fantastically.

Also get looking on the various stolen bikes websites to see if you can trace the owner yourself.

So basically, they’re relying on your greed to get in the way of you giving them anything more than the barest minimum to do on this one. Nice.

Edit: just read andy’s above. Good to hear. Keep going!

In their defence, they probably do get a lot of call outs to rusty old Halfords full bouncers. Did you really get across that you were knowledgable about bikes, and that it was a half decent thing?

user-removed: I see your point, but if my only bike was a shite-o Halfords full-bouncer, I’d still want it back if it was nicked.

It might represent a bigger portion of someone’s belongings than a good few £3K bikes of people’s off here.

If you’re willing I reckon you should be able to use social media to reunite it with its owner.

I’d be happy to help out anyway I can.

Oooof, not a great response from plod…
Mind, a wee description on here and if no claimers – WIN!

Perhaps if you contact a local paper they may run a story and help reunite the bike with its owner, I thought the police where cracking down on bike theft.

Try the police again in the morning. If they still aren’t interested, post a note on Gumtree, here and a few other bike forums. If nobody claims it within 28 days, stick it on eBay. Sell it, deduct the fees from the money you make and donate the rest to a charity of your choice.

It’s not a Transition TR250 is it? We’ve had one knicked by a city link driver and maybe he’s dumping the evidence.

Can you not tell igrf, just by concentrating really hard? 😛

Nah, it’s a Diamond Back with boggo Shimano gears. Not a super bike in anyway. Just quite new and full suss

Like the eBay and charity idea

Can you pull wheelies on it?

Go on, you know you want to try it.

I can pull wheelies on any bike!

[img]http://www.mlehworld.com/mleh3/images/smilies/smiley-laughing.gif[/img]

Well if want something amazing too. A post office bike was stolen couple of years ago in Cheltenham.Someone notice a guy riding around on it not a postie so reported it to the police and Royal mail.It still had the delivery round number on the back of the mudguard.Turns out the guy bought it from a police auction.So why didnt they ring Royal Mail when they first got it the police.It was reported being stolen by RM yet in a few months they had sold it.Police are worrying these days.
I Know they are CRAP bikes 😆

neither a comment on the rights or the wrongs of this issue, but as an aside, the “stole bike shed” at my local police station is overflowing. Now, the police have a responsibility to look after recovered goods, or at least not damage them further. There’s only so many bikes they can store at any one time.

Not saying its right, just saying how it is

Some forces don’t have the resources to collect every bike that comes to their attention. Down in the Met we’re always picking up abandoned bicycles that people ring in, so maybe it’s just where you live?

If you take it to a Police station they will take it off of you

Been meaning to take a trip up to this:
http://www.wilsonsauctions.com/specialist-search-results/24

Try the police again in the morning. If they still aren’t interested, post a note on Gumtree, here and a few other bike forums. If nobody claims it within 28 days, stick it on eBay. Sell it, deduct the fees from the money you make and donate the rest to a charity of your choice.

I think they call that handling stolen goods

Find something distinctive. On the frame and call your local paper about finding its owner. Coppers bosses hate embarrassment.

Probably not a police officer but a civilian on the phone. Try again tomorrow ask to speak to community officer or whatever the equivalent is.

grum – Member
Can you not tell igrf, just by concentrating really hard?

What was wrong with me today?
I should have known better than to cop to all that on here, and under my proper ID… some times, I am such a soft lad.. 🙄

the Police are just rubbish these days and now they wonder why they have so little respect etc. Their priorities are warped beyond belief.

The average copper has about as much idea about right and wrong as a magpie.

Take it to the police station and hand it in. If your local rag is interested try and take a reporter with you.

I have to say the Northumberland Police in Newcastle were great when my bike was stolen last month. After I noticed a similar bike go up for sale 3 days later on Gumtree they sent in undercover officers to collect the bike. Result: I got my bike back and they made three arrests.

The average copper has about as much idea about right and wrong as a magpie.

I am the average copper.

My mate fell off his bike while very drunk on a redway in MK one night, got up and stumbled home. Remembered in the morning that he had a bike at some point the previous night. Was gone when he went back to have a look, unsuprisingly.

the Police are just rubbish these days and now they wonder why they have so little respect etc.

I had a very different, positive experience with the police when my bike was stolen. Just to balance it out.

Take it home and hopefully you can keep it.

Thats theft by finding isn’t it? 🙂

Been meaning to take a trip up to this:
http://www.wilsonsauctions.com/specialist-search-results/24

I genuinely wouldn’t make the trip without seeing the catalogue – expect 99.99% pig iron and kids bikes with tassels and perhaps one entry level Dawes or Claud Butler but not in your size.

I genuinely wouldn’t make the trip without seeing the catalogue – expect 99.99% pig iron and kids bikes with tassels and perhaps one entry level Dawes or Claud Butler but not in your size.

Correct. I went to one. 99% crap. A few worn out 10 speeds. A few low end hybrids. Biggest thing is that the sale runs for a few hours so if there is a decent bike you are waiting around. Most are sold for £10-£15 if at all. Decent bikes like an Orange, Cannondale (in poor condition), etc go for £60-£80. I got a European make city bike, a year or so old, with 8 speed shimano gears, and dynohub lighting, rack and mudguards for £80.

I think that was about the top price for any bike that day.

Biggest thing is that the sale runs for a few hours so if there is a decent bike you are waiting around.

I’ve never been – just found reading the catalogue a life-sucking bore 🙂

The other thing with Wilsons – don’t ever give them your email address