WIBU To Take Back Something That's Been Stolen From Us

[whatsbehindthegreendoor]

Basically, my 20-year-old son's bike was stolen in March - we ended up buying him a new one as he cycles 7 miles each way to work every day and he needed it. The bike had new tyres and, because he had recently had a fall, there was masking take on the handle bars because some of the fabric had come loose.
Anyway, this morning my husband was catching the bus and the very same bike has been locked up at the bus stop which is very near our home. The bike was stolen in the centre of town which is 3 miles from here.
It would be the very biggest of coincidences if the bike was not his, the tyres being different to the original ones because we had replaced them and also the fact that the masking tape is still on there.
We didn't report the bike stolen because, to be honest, where we live, bikes are stolen all the time, it didn't seem as if there was much point.
My husband wants to go and break the lock and get the bike if it is still there when he gets home from work.
I'm worried, that even though we have a receipt for the bike, we'd be doing wrong.
So, I'm opening this up to you good people. Would it be unreasonable to take back what is ours?

OP just a tip (work a lot with bikes!) what your DH could do is take a good d-lock and if he sees the bike again he should lock it to the stand or post whatever with a note with his phone number or email. Take a picture of the bike and report it to the police immediately and say he has locked it as it may take a while for them to get to it. When the new owner of the bike gets back to it they will be unable to remove it but if they are an innocent who has bought it they will ring your husband and you can deal with it from there and help track down who sold them the stolen bike. If it's the thief they will just be severely pissed off they can't get their bike! But that way you don't commit a crime in stealing it back from a potentially innocent person. Please make sure the lock is a good strong one, preferably Sold Secure which your son should get anyway for locking his bike in public.

OOOH, great idea Mistress

Just to clarify something - rightly or wrongly, you can technically steal your own property and the OP would be liable for theft if she took the bike back. It's very unlikely that you would be prosecuted but I thought you needed to know the legal position. Best thing you can do is to phone the police

I would put another lock on it and call the police.

Do you have the frame number of the bike?

My DH stole back my bicycle from under the thief's nose a while back.

You've been given good advice and I do hope you follow it tomorrow.

Don't give up but don't go cutting through other peoples property or get done for stealing!

good luck.

Great advice from Mistress.

Next time, keep a record of the frame number and report the theft to 101, just to get a crime number (I wonder if you live in a city which also has a prestigious university?). That way you can prove your ownership of the bike quickly and legitimately.

This happened to a friend of mine. She put her lock round it with a note. When she returned the new owner had removed their lock.

The person using it may have bought it on a selling page or eBay (and it may remain local as often large items are collection only as to big to post).

I agree add your own lock and call the police on 101.

I'd steal the saddle, that would make for an erm, interesting if painful ride home for the thief

My bike was stolen. I found it in someone's front garden, still locked up with my obviously crappy lock. I unlocked it and cycled to the police station to report that it had been nicked and I knew where the culprits lived. The police told me that as I'd removed the evidence there was nothing they could do.

Good luck in retrieving the bike!

Mistress - that's a brilliant idea, thank you. I will suggest this to my husband as soon as he gets up! We've decided against just taking it back simply because if it is an innocent person who had purchased it, they should at least have the chance to be told why it's not actually theirs to keep.
Knowing our luck it won't be there this morning, but we're still calling the police I think - as it is local, it may turn up there at some other point!
Thank you to everyone for your input - it's appreciated :)

Local police in our city have a bike registry. They keep a list of serial numbers and brand/make. (Serial is on the frame under the pedals).

That way they can get stolen bikes back to owners.

Take a photo of your bike and the serial and it can help recover your items (just to anyone reading, not specifically OP).

Yes I'd call the police. How weird that it turned up near your home!

If you're sure it's his I would do it. However if you get caught there might be some explaining to do.

Hope you get it back today!

Hope the bike is parked up this mirning for you so you can put steps in place to get it back.

Unfortunately, it wasn't there this morning - bit annoying! However, my husband has contacted the police, they've given him a crime number and have said that if it turns up again, to call them and they (not us!) will get the bike unlocked! I think if it's been spotted once, we hopefully should see it again soon, and we can call the police and wait with the bike then! So, all hope may not be lost yet!

Goodluck!