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Original poster

Dd has found her stolen bike on Facebook Marketplace. How do we get it back?

31 replies

Neolara · 11/09/2025 00:07

Dad's bike was stolen last night. She reported it to the police with a detailed description but no serial number. She's just found it for sale on FB Marketplace. She wants it back!

How do we suggest we get it?

OP posts:
DrAmanitaPhalloides · 11/09/2025 00:08

Take screenshots, contact the seller and don't mention its your bike, say you want to come check it before buying, get their address, share the address with the police.

RobinEllacotStrike · 11/09/2025 00:09

Go around to buy it, give them a copy of the police incident report, and just cycle it home?

Igotupagain · 11/09/2025 00:22

Ask to take it for a test ride… and keep cycling. Police won’t do anything if you can’t prove it is yours and it was stolen by the seller.

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 11/09/2025 00:25

Take someone big that they aren’t going to argue with.

Original poster
Neolara · 11/09/2025 00:27

Dd has photo of the bike with distinctive markings on her LinkedIn profile, so should be able to prove it's her bike to police.

OP posts:
BlueUmberFox · 11/09/2025 00:33

I'm sure the police do look into these. I remember getting called about a stolen camera that had been reported missing. Ask them.

Weclomehome · 11/09/2025 00:40

This happened to a friend of mine. It was a seriously expensive bike and it was advertised for way less than it was worth and she just wanted it back so was happy to pay what they were asking. She gave her friend money and he arranged with the guy selling to go see the bike, her friend totally disagreed with her buying her own bike back so when he took it for a test run he just kept cycling and gave her her bike back. I would do that.

JMSA · 11/09/2025 02:40

Go round and ask to take it for a test cycle. Almost as an afterthought say, ‘oh, I can leave my bag with you so that you know I’ll be back’. Leave them with an old backpack or similar, with a brick inside and a note reading ‘fuck you, thief.’

selfcheck · 11/09/2025 07:39

JMSA · 11/09/2025 02:40

Go round and ask to take it for a test cycle. Almost as an afterthought say, ‘oh, I can leave my bag with you so that you know I’ll be back’. Leave them with an old backpack or similar, with a brick inside and a note reading ‘fuck you, thief.’

Grin
ResusciAnnie · 11/09/2025 07:44

JMSA · 11/09/2025 02:40

Go round and ask to take it for a test cycle. Almost as an afterthought say, ‘oh, I can leave my bag with you so that you know I’ll be back’. Leave them with an old backpack or similar, with a brick inside and a note reading ‘fuck you, thief.’

Definitely do this! 😂

Although if bike was stolen from home I’d definitely be paranoid they’d turn up angry!

SquaredPaper · 11/09/2025 07:47

ResusciAnnie · 11/09/2025 07:44

Definitely do this! 😂

Although if bike was stolen from home I’d definitely be paranoid they’d turn up angry!

Show quote history

That’s a fair point. Was it stolen from her home, OP?

Riverswims · 11/09/2025 08:12

has anyone thought of the potential that it’s not the seller who actually stole it? do you think they’d advertise themselves on FB? they probably bought it very cheap from the local thief knowingly or unknowingly or even from local charity sales, I’ve seen some with loads of every type of bike online and asked them “where do you get the bikes from?” to which they replied “we get them from many different places” 😳 which doesn’t sound very verifiable? so I wouldn’t start trying to steal it back from the “seller”
my brand new distinctive bike was stolen and I combed the internet looking for it for ages, the police said it would’ve been stolen by someone known to them but I can’t imagine them acting for you and getting my bike back from a “seller” or vindicating me taking it back from them

Branster · 11/09/2025 08:15

@Riverswims with such a quick turnaround I would bet the seller knows what they are selling.
Even if they didn't know it was stolen, it is illegal to sell stolen goods.

BestZebbie · 11/09/2025 08:15

I had a bike stolen, reported it, then found it locked up outside Tesco (by someone else). I called the police and they came and cut the lock off and gave it back to me.

ComfortFoodCafe · 11/09/2025 08:24

JMSA · 11/09/2025 02:40

Go round and ask to take it for a test cycle. Almost as an afterthought say, ‘oh, I can leave my bag with you so that you know I’ll be back’. Leave them with an old backpack or similar, with a brick inside and a note reading ‘fuck you, thief.’

This comment wins comments of the day. Grin

Sailawaygirl · 11/09/2025 08:29

I saw my old bike being riden by someone ( he was also wearing my coat that he stole at the same time). I followed him and call the police who arrived really quickly!! And I got bike back.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 11/09/2025 08:31

Tell the seller you want to buy it. Go round with her. As soon as she's got her hands on it you inform the seller that it is her bike that was stolen yesterday, she will be taking it home now, and you will be reporting them and their address to the police. Then leave.

LupaMoonhowl · 11/09/2025 08:50

Really dispiriting that we all agree the police wouldn’t do anything, and the DD has to put herself in danger to get back her stolen property 😔😔😔

pizzaHeart · 11/09/2025 08:56

get someone else to contact them as the bike is on her profile.

Chiseltip · 11/09/2025 09:15

Riverswims · 11/09/2025 08:12

has anyone thought of the potential that it’s not the seller who actually stole it? do you think they’d advertise themselves on FB? they probably bought it very cheap from the local thief knowingly or unknowingly or even from local charity sales, I’ve seen some with loads of every type of bike online and asked them “where do you get the bikes from?” to which they replied “we get them from many different places” 😳 which doesn’t sound very verifiable? so I wouldn’t start trying to steal it back from the “seller”
my brand new distinctive bike was stolen and I combed the internet looking for it for ages, the police said it would’ve been stolen by someone known to them but I can’t imagine them acting for you and getting my bike back from a “seller” or vindicating me taking it back from them

Anybody doing that will KNOW that the bikes aren't legit to begin with. The OP can absolutely take their property back, the Police won't be interested . . and your fabled "innocent" middleman won't be talking to anyone either.

RobinEllacotStrike · 11/09/2025 10:37

Riverswims · 11/09/2025 08:12

has anyone thought of the potential that it’s not the seller who actually stole it? do you think they’d advertise themselves on FB? they probably bought it very cheap from the local thief knowingly or unknowingly or even from local charity sales, I’ve seen some with loads of every type of bike online and asked them “where do you get the bikes from?” to which they replied “we get them from many different places” 😳 which doesn’t sound very verifiable? so I wouldn’t start trying to steal it back from the “seller”
my brand new distinctive bike was stolen and I combed the internet looking for it for ages, the police said it would’ve been stolen by someone known to them but I can’t imagine them acting for you and getting my bike back from a “seller” or vindicating me taking it back from them

not the OP's daughters problem is it?

The seller needs more provenence of any second hand goods they are selling if they don't want to be a fence.

Pharazon · 11/09/2025 10:41

Riverswims · 11/09/2025 08:12

has anyone thought of the potential that it’s not the seller who actually stole it? do you think they’d advertise themselves on FB? they probably bought it very cheap from the local thief knowingly or unknowingly or even from local charity sales, I’ve seen some with loads of every type of bike online and asked them “where do you get the bikes from?” to which they replied “we get them from many different places” 😳 which doesn’t sound very verifiable? so I wouldn’t start trying to steal it back from the “seller”
my brand new distinctive bike was stolen and I combed the internet looking for it for ages, the police said it would’ve been stolen by someone known to them but I can’t imagine them acting for you and getting my bike back from a “seller” or vindicating me taking it back from them

Completely irrelevant. If you buy stolen goods, even in good faith, they do not belong to you and the real owner has every right to recover them from you.

Connectingconcrable · 11/09/2025 10:46

JMSA · 11/09/2025 02:40

Go round and ask to take it for a test cycle. Almost as an afterthought say, ‘oh, I can leave my bag with you so that you know I’ll be back’. Leave them with an old backpack or similar, with a brick inside and a note reading ‘fuck you, thief.’

Brilliant! 👏👏👏

Clearinguptheclutter · 11/09/2025 10:50

I’d contact the police immediately but I wouldn’t expect them to be able to jump on this quick enough. Ideally the police would come with you to collect the bike.

MistyMountainTop · 11/09/2025 11:31

LupaMoonhowl · 11/09/2025 08:50

Really dispiriting that we all agree the police wouldn’t do anything, and the DD has to put herself in danger to get back her stolen property 😔😔😔

London Centric reported a few weeks ago:
'This means that if you reported a bike stolen to the Met police this year, there’s less than 1% chance of ever seeing the bike ever again, or even hearing of anyone being prosecuted for stealing it.'

and the reporter actually took matters into his own hands to recover his own bike earlier this year.