Feel good story: “How I led police to a thief and got my bike back’

No airtags in this story, just a bit of gumtree and an owner reunited with his Cannondale. <Thumbs up.>

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y32qwq559o

Yeah, nice to see the police actually sent a couple of officers along with him, usually they don’t have the resources. I can see why bike theft in general is considered a low priority (hard to get a conviction and lots of other priorities to spend their limited budget on) but in cases like these where the owner has identified it being resold you’d think it would be more of a priority for them.

Nice to see the police taking it a bit more seriously, but surely they did not need the owner (and his partner) to out themselves in harms way, the police should have dealt with it themselves.

The sentencing range for handling stolen goods seems rather wide.

The consequences for handling stolen goods offences can range from 14 years custody to a Band C fine (125- 175% weekly income) and a discharge. The court will determine these fines and penalties depending on the categories the crime sits in (i.e. culpability and financial value).

Can’t see the culprit getting 14 years. I’d like to see them get a fine, a criminal record and a lengthy community service working for a bike charity.

It does happen, and it’s nice to see. Locally to me, a young lad at the skate park had his bike nicked by a bunch of scrotes. It was highlighted on facebook and he asked for work like dogwalking (he’s only about 13 or so) to raise the money to replace it – it got as far a GoFundMe being set up to which local people were donating. In the meantime the bike was spotted on FB marketplace by someone else, and the local cops got it back for him – I do wonder if perhaps the people involved in the theft werealready known to the police. The GoFundMe is being refunded now and things are rosy.

They knocked on a door and when the thief’s mother answered, she asked the police: “What’s he done now?”

Mr Bayman’s bike was there, along with three others.

pressumably she had noticed the 3 bikes in her flat. that wernt there yesterday.

Lovely stuff, but couldn’t help but look at the delightful spread of charming pics of him and the lovely Eloise provided to the media and wondering if he worked in PR and marketing…and so it proved!

There is a bit more to the story. There is a local cycling ‘campaigner’ up here in Manchester that actually helped his mate get the bike back.  It was those two who tracked it down to a specific area then they worked out where the bike was – the chap from Manchester said he’d come down to buy it, so they had a rough idea where it was located. It was when they told the police they were going to get the bike that they turned up.  I suppose you have to simplify the story a little.

Some good detective work on their part though.

The mere fact this is classed as a news item on the BBC (or anywhere else) speaks volumes.

They knocked on a door and when the thief’s mother answered, she asked the police: “What’s he done now?”

Mr Bayman’s bike was there, along with three others.

He’s stolen some bikes, surely it’s obvious?

Good to see it working as it should in this case.

Police never showed up when I was in a similar situation.

Ended up taking the bike from the idiot selling it. No chance he stole it (Trainee solicitor!) His understanding of title and ownership is better now.. He did offer to talk to the police and make a statement on where he bought it but they never got back to me to get his details.. Always feels like an opportunity lost.

I’m not in PR.