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It seems to me that the buyer of the stolen bike did check, and he didn't think he was buying something too good to be true, because he wondered if it might be cracked or something under the paint.
It's probably as well to not judge others too harshly when they don't do things our own experiences have taught us to do.
It seems to me that the buyer of the stolen bike did check, and he didn't think he was buying something too good to be true, because he wondered if it might be cracked or something under the paint.
Regardless of whether you thought the bike might be damaged under the paint job, the post screamed "nicked" - seller didn't know anything about the bike, couldn't answer any questions.
On the occasion I have bought second hand, I have always hit the seller with technical or difficult questions that only a genuine, knowledgeable owner is likely to know answers to, and then asked for original proof of purchase. If someone said "I don't know anything about it", I'd run a mile.
I guess the lesson is that due diligence is key when buying 2nd hand.
Good Evening STW'ers,
A little (or big and final) update for everyone.
I spoke to PC X today re the developments. I advised that the buyer contacted me and said they'd bought the bike, realised it was stolen, was willing to return bike, make statements, provide names, addresses, photos etc.
PC X said that having arrested and interviewed the seller, there would be no evidence that he'd stolen it. Furthermore, proving that he'd bought it or kept it knowing it was stolen would also be very difficult to prove given that he'd not admitted to knowing it was stolen during interview under caution.
In the defence of the buyer, PC X said that the seller seemed quite genuine about his story of buying it last June off Facebook and that his story, during interview, matched his mums story of her giving him the money for it for his birthday. PC X went on to say that despite how dodgy the ad looked, he doesn't believe the lad stole the bike. Obviously doesn't mean the seller is completely innocent of dodgy involvement in this bike but it shows that the buyer, having performed some checks and visited the home of the seller and also having seen the condition of the bike, was quite easily led to believe it was a genuine sale by a genuine muppet who genuinely had no idea about bikes.
So, that's it. Case closed.
North Wales Police were amazing. Sure, they didn't get there before the bike had sold but that's down to logistics, resources and timing. Besides, lets face it, the end result would have been the same. Well, almost the same. They would have arrested and questioned the seller and seized the bike but ultimately they wouldn't have got a conviction as they wouldn't have been able to prove he knew it was stolen property. I also felt (and still feel) guilty that North Wales Police took so much time and spent so much resource investigating and following up on this.
As for the buyer - well, I think he's nothing but genuine. He took the time to find my contact details and get in touch. Was willing, from the beginning, to assist in whichever way he could and has been brilliant throughout. I felt guilty, snd still do, about being a bit of an arse with him initially. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose by making contact on Monday morning (well, actually, he did make the first attempt on Sunday evening).
The bike? It's in bits in the buyers house. I've transferred ownership of it to him. He's kindly agreed to give me the frame. Sadly it's a little scarred - he tells me that the serial number has been ground off. I'll have to carry on digging around to find it and maybe have it re-etched.
What does the future hold for the frame? Who knows. I've seen a set of Pikes for sale that would suit a BFe perfectly. I'm tempted. Seriously tempted. I'm going to have to satisfy myself that they're not stolen first though. Now THAT would be embarrassing.
I was actually quite embarrassed that PC X took so much time out of his day to travel from Barmouth to Wrexham. And then back again!
There are certain people that coppers get to know and really ****ing loathe, I suspect that if the chap in question was one of them, then they might like any excuse to piss the guy off...
Edit: Just read the post above, great to here how good North Wales Police are.
There are certain people that coppers get to know and really **** loathe
If PC X in Barmouth knows Scrote Y in Wrexham then he should be rightly bloody proud of himself! That's some local knowledge!
Lol @ Bregante
Very true indeed. Not massively local. I'm sure there's some collaboration between stations though.
he tells me that the serial number has been ground off
And yet he believed it was genuine, WTF?