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...

[NottsCounting]

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 .

Oh hooray! I am thrilled for you .

As someone who has recently looked on Gumtree for a second hand bike to buy, I am now painfully aware that there are some really brazen dodgy geezers out there running a racket in stolen bikes. 4 or 5 different bikes photographed in exactly the same living room? Oh yes, its all there on Gumtree.

Well done, I hope that some of the other pwople who had stuff stolen get it back too.

Yah on getting your bike back

was wondering if it was aa nice shiney bike... magpies seem to like pinching shiney things..

or perhaps it has black and white stripes?

don't tell me he has resprayed it in red?

I am pleased - I really thought last week that it was gone forever. It doesn't feel quite like my bike yet, but it will .

It doesn't say much for the bloke that took it that it was so easy to find - you would have thought they would try to sell it out of area wouldn't you? Bit shocked at Gumtree bbh, maybe police should have a dedicated bike finding unit. Sounds like they would have lots of business!

I do feel pleased that other people might get their stuff back too. Good day all round.

Glad you got it back.

My dbro got his racing cycling stolen in Lampeter where he was at uni. The local bobby was in the cycling club, he saw dbro bike some months later and recognised despite having been painted silver with hammerite so dbro had the insurance money and his old bike as a spare!

Apparantly the person who stole it was known to the police and not the brightest

good news.. well, hope your handle bars etc turn up!

Gumtree is a nightmare. I bought something on there, bloke sounded Ok, it wasn't cheap. Luckily my instinct told me to use paypal as a back up, and when the thing arrived, it wasn't 'brand new' but had marks on it he hadn't mentioned ('they were just from it being rubbed against the garage wall') and was about 10 years old (the date of manufacture was, erm, printed on the inside)

The guy was a git to deal with so thankfully paypal was needed and they got my money back. But I would recommend always seeing the item first or paying by credit card or paypal just in case.

Btw OP I'm really chuffed for you and sorry to hear it's been mucked about with....I had a motorbike stolen once and it was found but with the wiring cut through. Pointless.

It was such a violation, but I guess you might be able to sort out your bike - and the bloke has never seen YOU so if you change the bike's appearance a bit, you won't be recognised. That's good. and very well done.

Great news