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AIBU?

My bike was nicked from outside work last week (despite a D-lock - grr), and I think it is for sale in the local paper...

60 replies

NottsCounting · 15/09/2011 20:43

AIBU in going round and checking it is mine (I have photos and it has a number I etched on the frame), and just saying - give it back? Or should I involve the police? The description is pretty similar, and it is a fairly unusual bike. The thing is, whoever took it obviously is familiar with where I work, so if I went to the police, I worry there could retributions...
More of a WWYD I suppose, but comments welcomed. Oh, and when I say 'I would go round', I mean I and two great big bikers friends I know .

OP posts:

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Groovee · 15/09/2011 20:45

Go to the police and see what they say

planetpotty · 15/09/2011 20:45

I would just go see it and if it's your bike say "Give it back" from behind the scary bikers obv! But im probably supposed to say go to the Police :)

nancy75 · 15/09/2011 20:46

i wouldn't be able to stop myself from going round there, although call the police is the sensible answer

going · 15/09/2011 20:46

Get advice from the police.

Northernlurker · 15/09/2011 20:47

Call the police - who possibly check the 'for sale' ads anyway!

RollingInTheAisles · 15/09/2011 20:47

I'd go to the police because if they don't give it back they can get rid of it before you can get the police there. Plus they might sell it any day, and it's a crime!

LessonsinL · 15/09/2011 20:48

Involve the police. A mate of mine did this with some stolen property - the little scrotes that took it were so scared that they gave it straight back.

Ripeberry · 15/09/2011 20:48

Go round with your friends and just ask the seller questions about the bike and then have a look at it carefully. Then show them the mark and ask them about it.
If they come up with no excuse then get your friends involved. He/she may know where you work, but you know where THEY live!

fluffles · 15/09/2011 20:48

i'd go and see it and check but keep schtum at the time and invent a reason to not buy it, then if it is i'd go tell the police...

BupcakesandCunting · 15/09/2011 20:49

Go to the police. Cheeky swines!

Hassled · 15/09/2011 20:49

A friend had a bike nicked from her garden and then saw it for sale at the local bike shop. The police were there pretty damn quick but I think there was some issue re the immediate return of the bike - evidence, I guess. Can't remember the outcome, but I think calling the police won't necessarily get you your bike back quickly, although you will get it back.

celticlassie · 15/09/2011 20:50

I would go round. But I'm not very sensible ...

DogsBestFriend · 15/09/2011 20:50

I would want to but you just don't know who you're dealing with and if they know where you work you could be in danger. You'd be better off giving a pal a photo and/or full description and just asking them to call as a potential buyer and then calling the police for advice if it still seems to be that the bike is indeed yours.

Something I'd do first, which I picked up through checking out dodgy dog breeders/possible puppy farmers, is to Google the phone number and/or email address with the ad. See what turns up - Google in inverted commas, in the case of phone numbers both with and without spaces. (IE "01234 56789" and also "0123456789").

You never know, there may be another ad with more/different information in it or something which confirms your suspicions.

TrillianAstra · 15/09/2011 20:50

YANBU to want to go round and say "gimme my bike you bastards"

But I'd ring the police non-emergency number and see what they say. It might not be very safe.

NottsCounting · 15/09/2011 20:50

But if I get the police involved, then whoever took it might start hanging around work looking for me (or my bike -and I use it everyday to ride to and from work). Once they spotted my bike, they would know it was me that shopped them, and I don't fancy that. Hence my two bikers friends just quietly getting back what was mine. Aargh!

OP posts:

RollingInTheAisles · 15/09/2011 20:53

But they'll still know it's you if you go round there with your friends. If you want it back then go via the police, if they do this regularly they probably won't remember which bike comes from where anyway.

NottsCounting · 15/09/2011 20:54

You see, I would like whoever took it to get their come-uppence, I really do, so I understand all of you saying go to the police. BUT, I don't want to be checking over my shoulder every time I ride my bike to work from now on...it would be simpler to just get it back

OP posts:

Sam100 · 15/09/2011 20:54

I would go round - establish it is your bike - ask thief if you can take pictures as not for you but for someone else - get thief in one of said pictures. Ask him to hold onto bike for you until tomorrow/ next week so you can come back with the cash for it. Then go straight round to police station with details of where they are and that they have your stolen bike - show them picture and then make sure they go round and nick the git!

HerHissyness · 15/09/2011 20:56

Don't be daft. This thief won't come and hang around your work!

If he gets off with a give the bike back chat, he'll not compound it by adding harrassment/menacing to it!

Call the 101 number and TALK to the police, sitting here wondering won't get your bike back, and it'll be 100 times harder if this git actually sells the bike to someone else!

DO IT!

NottsCounting · 15/09/2011 20:57

Yes, but if I go round with my scary friends, then I'm hoping the thief won't try and get back at me, and he won't have any reason to as he won't be in trouble with the police. If I tell the police, then they will get in trouble, and so they may want revenge...

OP posts:

HerHissyness · 15/09/2011 20:59

Do you have a pic of the bike before it was stolen? do you have a note of the serial number?

ExpensivePants · 15/09/2011 20:59

Involve police, get bike back, sell bike, buy replacement. No over shoulder glancing required.

[sledgehammer/nut emoticon]

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bibbitybobbityhat · 15/09/2011 21:00

Just ask the police fgs. They are very interested in solving this sort of crime. Its easy for them and ups their stats. Do not put yourself at risk by responding to the ad, going to an address, and accusing the owner of stealing your bicycle.

FessaEst · 15/09/2011 21:00

The police could just be checking out bikes for sale in the local area due to an increase in thefts for eg. You could have already reported your bike stolen, and it could be the police who recognize the etched number and match up the 2 iyswim? Am sure they wouldn't go round there and say, "you have been dobbed in by the direct victim of your crime". Plus, as much as they know which building you work in, the police would then know everything about them, so they'd be pretty silly to come looking for you.

You really should involve the police, as they could be master bike-nickers and you may not be the only victim.

Katisha · 15/09/2011 21:03

This happened to friends. The woman's bike was nicked and they saw it for sale so the DH went round on the pretence or buying it, asked for a test ride and just rode off with it.

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