to want to rip the head off the bastard who just stole my daughter's BRAND NEW BIKE?

[Rowlers]

I'm so fucking cross I could scream
DDs brand new Isla bike which she's waited ages for us to find the money to buy has just been stolen.
Locked up outside the library.
5pm.
DP was there at 4.55 getting on his bike to go home.
When DD and I got there at 5.05, it was gone.
Some fucking low life thieving bastard now has it.
I fucking hate thieves. Really would like to fucking pummel the bastard's face in. He's probably really pleased with his day's work.
And my daughter is distraught.
Fucking animal.
AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH

sorry, need to let it out

[CSIJanner]

Was wondering if there was any news? Did you manage to find the bike listed anywhere and get it back?

[lljkk]

OP has linked direclty to the bike, it's a Beinn 26 small.

[lljkk]

Beinn 20 near OP.

Rowlers, Have you posted anything on Bikeradar about it being stolen?

[foofooyeah]

Just to let you I hear of somebody saw their stolen bike for sale on ebay a distance away but it was 'delivery only' So the thieves had advertised it as about 150 miles away to try to stop the legit owner finding it. So make your search wide.

Really hope you get somewhere with this, sorry for your daughter.

[ZebraOwl]

Glad to hear your children have taken such a pragmatic approach to it: am keeping fingers crossed you'll be amongst the lucky few who get their bike back!

[Rowlers]

No news, Empress, but I have been really humbled by the support shown on here and elsewhere on t'internet and in RL. Really, thank you so much.
Thanks to all those of you who have sent messages, and very generous offers!
I am contacting local news sites / papers etc and police are looking through local restaurants CCTV today.
The support is great but I can't shake this feeling I have inside me now. I always do dwell on things for a long time. Ah well.
Zebra, both children have been upset but very sensible about it. DS (5) said "Whoever stole it will probably just sell it to make some money" Clever boy!

[ZebraOwl]

How awful

Bike theft was endemic at my university. All bicycles had to be marked up in a specific way & students given lots of advice on locks etc but that didn't stop thieves. One summer (lots of people, especially international students, left their bikes up over the Long) gangs toured bikesheds with vans stealing to order. One of my friends was actually slightly affronted to discover hers was the only one left in that section of the sheds - and even more indignant that they'd even taken the lock off it but left the bike!

As others have said, keep an eye out on EBay/GumTree/FB selling pages etc & use social media to appeal for people to watch out for it.

Really hope that the bike comes home to you - horribly upsetting for you all. Theft feels like such a violation. My little iPod mini vanished from my pocket on a train journey (def not just lost as not handed in) & I'd quite like to garrotte the thief with my headphones. I can't afford to replace it & it has seen me through multiple hospital admissions. Plus the playlists are such a personal thing

As an aside, it's worth making sure you talk it all through with your DD as children can hang on to fears about crimes. One of my Brownies developed PTSD after she & her mother were attacked, which you might expect. The Brownie who has developed a fear of all strangers since her house was burgled was a bit less expected - I don't just mean in the Stranger Danger sense, she struggles when she has a cover teacher at school because they might be "A Bad Person". Am not saying anything like that will happen to your DD, just that it's worth talking to her about her understanding of what's happened & any fears/concerns she might have etc.

Oh & try to ignore people picking on you for your choice of bike. If you'd got her a solid gold bike encrusted with precious stones and left it unattended & unloced with a neon sign saying "Steal Me", they might have a point about it being an unwise choice. As it is, though, their views are miles beside the point & you don't need the extra hassle of feeling you've to justify your choice.

[EmpressOfThe7OceansLovesMN]

Any news, Rowlers?

A friend of mine promised tonight to get the congregation of Nottingham Cathedral on the lookout & if it means anything to you & your DD I think she'll get them praying for it as well.

[Scholes34]

DS1 had his bike stolen - it was his grandad's very nice racing bike from the 80s that we'd had done up. It was locked to his friends' bikes, and the four bikes were simply targetted and lifted by thieves. Because it wasn't locked to anything static, the insurance refused to pay out.

DS1 now has two bikes - which he's paid for out of his own money earned delivering papers - one is for use when delivering his papers, the other is a very nice racing bike that he only goes out on to ride and not to lock up and leave somewhere.

[PastaBeeandCheese]

I'm afraid so Rowlers. That makes it all the worst that someone has done this to a child. At least my DH knows there are nasty, horrible fuckers out there who just take what they want from others. Your poor DD.

[pigletmania]

I kept scanning thi thread hoping there would be. Happy ending. All I can say is how awful, thinking of you

[LucieLucie]

Op how awful, especially when you thought it was tied up securely.

If it was stolen on a busy main street (bus route) ask the police to check passing bus CCTV on the off chance it caught something. Also, handlebars of the white bike should be swabbed for DNA.

Also advertise it on gumtree as stolen, make it harder for them to sell it on for decent money.
Scummy thieves. I hope you get it back somehow.

[minouminou]

Some good advice here, OP. I reckon you'll nail the buggers.

[minouminou]

I'm glad that odious skateboard comment is gone.
Just reading it made my face transform into a lemon-sucking, cat's bum mask.

[bestegg]

I just though, would it be worth posting a wanted ad for the bike on gumtree and preloved? If the thief is using these sites then they may respond to wanted ads.

[Rowlers]

Pasta, the anger is huge!!! But mixed with exasperation, sadness and a constant feeling of "what if .." , "if only .."
It's maddening.
So sorry for your DH. It stays with you for a long time, doesn't it?

[bestegg]

Having looked on eBay and gumtree for this bike model, it doesn't seem that they are sold online in great quantities, in this size and colour. If it is sold online and listed correctly, then it won't be lost among lots of listings for the same item but do search under the make without the model number in case it is sold as that. I really hope you manage to get some resolution on this, it is so horrid when something like this happens.

[PastaBeeandCheese]

I'm so sorry Rowlands. DH had his Specialised triathlon bikes stolen a few years back. He was devastated and the insurance didn't pay out what they were worth and the excess was massive.

He was so angry about it all and knows exactly how you feel. He had to pull out of Iron Man after training for a year as his bikes were gone.

I hope these bike thieves rot.... To steal from a child in this way is so low.

[Rowlers]

Thank you everyone for your tips, words of encouragement and sympathy. It has really helped settle me a little. While it's bloody awful to read, your own stories have made me feel a little less of an idiot. I am going to try as many of your suggestions as i can. If anyone is able to look out for it on occasions that would be marvellous although i understand this will be quickly forgoten! That's life i suppose.

[scotlass]

OP another one here to say you absolutely are NOT being unreasonable. I'd be livid if some little shithead thieving git thought it is fair game to walk off with a child's bike, or anyone's really.

As for those who are commenting on 'why would you buy a child a bike that costs ££££'s' I'm so sad that that's even came into it here. We've just bought DS an isla bike for his 4th birthday and will get 3yrs out of it at least. It's a fantastic wee bike that's tons lighter than any we ever got DD. We had always bought specialized before and got over half our money back so in effect spent not much more than we would've done at Halfords. We'll be selling his on too to get the next size up.

If you work hard to save for something you really want how is that silly?

I hope it turns up OP and the police can explain to them the error of their ways.

[kitbit]

*watch

FFS

[kitbit]

Friend of mine had his waych stolen at the gym. He watched eBay, the watch came up, he bid and won it, it was close by so he asked to collect. He 'collected' with the police.

Fingers crossed you might have similar luck, op

[HotelTangoFoxtrotUniform]

How exasperating for you all! Our bikes were stolen at Christmas and after a lot of hard work and kicking up an enormous stink I finally got them back this month (I found them on eBay in January). Your daughter's bike might not be gone forever!

This website draws in all the online listings for bike sales and it's how I found mine. We were told to keep an eye out locally, but the scumbag chap selling our bikes claimed to be in the Midlands but is based in London so I missed it at first.

Also get in touch with Kryptonite - I'm sure they offer a limited (£1000?) insurance on bikes secured with their locks. You may have to register, but it's worth looking into.

I am raging on your behalf, I loathe thieves (particularly bike thieves at present). Have everything crossed for you that it comes back.

[MimiSunshine]

Skinnywhippet "Ah, Nottingham". Really? Yes the whole county is bloody awful

OP I'm surprised it was stolen in WB but I guess scumbags will at some point think to travel to a nice area to steal nice things.
Are you on FB? You (or someone you know) should put a status up with a picture (taken from google / Isla website if you don't have one) of the bike saying from where and when it was stolen, asking for people to please let you know if suddenly they get given /offered one cheap.
Make sure your setting for that post is completely open (globe symbol) and ask people to 'share' it, I saw a similar thing recently when a girl named and shamed a dangerous driver in the Notts / Lincs area and it went viral

[makemineamalibuandpineapple]

I know the feeling OP. someone stole my son's almost brand new JD bug scooter last year. It had his name on the bottom which IMO makes it seem all the more personal and I hope the thief felt ashamed (I doubt it) It wasn't long before Christmas so maybe someone wanted to give it to their child after removing my son's name. Your poor dd, I hope she is OK. There are some real bastards out there.