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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...
?
Go in, take the brakes off, wheel it out. Phone thr police when you're there and tell them what you are doing.
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.
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...
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.
tell the local press
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.
can you prove it is your dads bike? that's the important bit.
assuming you can, police, local press, make yourself a nuisance.
I'd be going into that shop and covering my bike in some great big locks for a kick off. Stop them selling it.
what shop, its not a small one in Headingley, is it?
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.
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.
Don't suppose you've got the frame number?
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.
what about buying it and then taking them to the small claims court for the £60?
Its cyclerecycle in hebden bridge essentially arnt they handling stolen goods? And vandalising my property?
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"
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 ?)
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??
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. "
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!!!
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...
http://www.cyclerecycle.org.uk/index.php?id=1
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.....
Isn't Ben at Cycle Recycle a mate of a few at STW Towers?
Maybe they can help.
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.
I know Ben who runs cyclerecycle and im 100% sure he wont knowingly sell stolen bikes!
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.
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
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.
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
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)
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.
[b]they won't give him it back[/b] because they've put different brakes on it because the original were "crap" [b]and wanted the police to get involved before anything happens[/b]
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??
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
If you have proof it's your Da's bike (frame # or photos) then you should go round and take it off them, brakes and all. They've fked up (badly), you can prove it, end of story and let's all get on with our lives.
If you can't unequivocally show them evidence that the bike is yours then you have to see things from their pov - they can't have strangers turning up and hauling bikes out of their shop just like that. Due process, polis, shop owner etc etc.
ETA - This happened to a neighbour in my stair - saw his stolen bike in a second hand shop (not a recycling-type place). He did actually pay them for the new gears they put on it and they left it at that. Very meek of him IMO, as his bike was nicked by a serial thief (who got caught, subsequently) and it's almost impossible to see how the shop could be selling that in good faith.
Where was it stolen from? It's difficult to tell from your post but is it a sort of pub bike that has been left lying around Hebden rusting away and someone has donated it to cycle recycle for them to do up? Wasn't sure if your 'but its my dads only means of transport' was supposed to pull at the heart strings a bit? Is it you bike or his? If it was actually taken in a break in I'm sure the police would be a bit more interested?
I've dropped off one of my bf's old frames at Cyclerecycle and they make you fill in a provenance form so I don't think they'd do anything deliberately dodgy.
Not sure how you get the police to investigate further though. I'd go to the Hebden Bridge News if you've not had any joy from them...
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 [b]legal[/b] to arrest the shop owner? Yes, the Police have suspicion that he is handling stolen goods.
Is it [b]reasonable[/b] to arrest a charity shop owner? Possibly - do you think he's going to abscond on the proceeds? Ok, possibly not.
Is it [b]neccessary[/b] 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.
Oi Mildred - we want you to go round there and sort it out in full on Sweeney style!
[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3200/2961407449_607c519f7b_m.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart166axe/2961407449/ ]The Sweeney.[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/stuart166axe/ ]Stuart Axe[/url], on Flickr
theprawn
HE HAS RETURNED!
get me Piers Morgan on the phone.
I have spoken to Ben, the manager of Cycle Recycle. He has contacted the police himself to inform them of the situation and if the bike is proved to be the one in question, he will happily return it to it right full owner.
He is running a fantastic project which is helping keep bikes out of land fill, give people employment/skills and provide people with a low cost way of getting into the enjoyment of biking. He has worked endlessly to build a strong reputation and it would be wrong if an ill informed website forum thread destroyed that reputation
Mildred - my comment was a joke, hence why the next comment started 'Seriously'. 🙄
I understood from reading the thread that the police have been contacted 4 times already.
I'd think it unlikely that there are so many emergencies in Hebden Bridge that someone from the Community team doesn't have time to pop down.
have you considered throwing a shoe at him?
I remember years ago there was a well known bikeshop in Huddersfield where the owner drove Porsche/M5's etc and they were nicked/closed down for fencing on stolen bikes.
Seems daft as I bet they would have made a pretty penny selling legit.