Electric bike stolen from inside house

[Lifeisverylongwhenyourelonely]

We live in a large house converted into studio flats. The bike doesn't fit into our studio so we leave it inside in the corridor.
Even that was too risky apparently, anyway last night at some point it was either broken into or it's somebody from one of the 7 other flats, don't really know these people.
No CCTV at the property, it was a bike worth £650, only had it 2 months
Not sure what else can be done really. So angry, I had another bike stolen last year which was locked up, but they broke into the lock.

Feel like it's my fault and definitely won't be getting another bike

Was it locked?

Can you claim on insurance and get a folding bike next time?

It was a folding one but our flat is so tiny and cramped, still it is my fault for leaving it in the communal area

Just a suggestion but check with the landlord management company they haven't removed it .
It would have been a fire hazard and you are generally not allowed to store things in communal areas .

You left s £650 bike unlocked in the corridor?!!!

Can you look at putting it up on the wall inside your flat? My cycling London friends do this if they don't have communal bike storage at their flats.

Otherwise, invest in multiple better locks. I was told that the lock should almost cost as much as the bike and to have multiple. What type if lock did you use before?

Yes that's a good point. I've sent them a message and waiting to hear back

Well without sounding rude, you don’t live in a house, you live in a block of flats.

Leaving it in a communal area isn’t far off leaving it in the street.

Every block I’ve lived in has had strict rules about leaving stuff in the halls so it might be that a neighbour has got the hump and taken it in? Worth knocking round to check.

But an expensive lesson otherwise.

It was a strong lock but definitely nowhere near 650. But I admit I should never even have left it there. I won't be getting another e bike as I can't be trusted with them it seems

I've voted YABU because although it should be enough to have it indoors, you've not taken adequate steps to protect something valuable. Would you leave your laptop in the hallway? No, of course not. Has it definitely been stolen or has another resident got pissed off with you storing it in the communal space and just put it outside? For safety reasons storing bikes and pushchairs in hallways in multi occupancy building is often not allowed as it impedes the exit route in the case of an emergency.

Did it have the charger with it and has that also gone?

I’d check FB selling, eBay and gumtree. You might be able to find it. I don’t suppose you did the black light pen thing on it?

It wasn't a good idea I admit, our flat has no space for even a folding bike, we were planning to move in a couple of weeks to a place with secure bike storage, just typical really

Luckily I still have the charger in my flat
Totally agree I shouldn't have left it there
I hope the company would have informed me if it's them who moved it

Management might have removed it as it's a fire risk. Tbh you shouldn't leave anything outside your flat. I've lived in flats and it's well know rule. Hope it turns up

It's fine if they removed it as long as they tell me, but they haven't told me anything

Maybe they didn’t know it was yours?

Yeah, it’s been nicked because it’s valuable and saleable and you left it unlocked and unattended in a communal hallway with no CCTV…

Yes I'm aware , that's not really helpful though. I'm more looking for advice about what I can do next

Well, short of reporting it to the police (crime number, they won’t attend) and then notifying all seven neighbours of the theft by letter, and keeping an eye on various selling platforms, there’s nothing you can do.

What's your AIBU?

YABU to leave a very portable, valuable item in a public space.
YANBU to assume nothing can now be done given these circumstances.

Did you record the serial number?
Did you indelibly mark the bike?
Both will be important if the police do recover it to identify it as yours.

Was it registered with the manufacturer/supplier? If so let them know it has been stolen.
Contact the manufacturer/supplier as the charger may be unique to that model of bike and may want the serial number when supplying a new charger.

It could be one of your neighbours
It could have been a break in
It could have been any of the visitors, delivery drivers, workmen, cleaners, cold callers, etc visiting any of the flats.

Is the building always open or do visitors have to be buzzed in?

I reckon leaving it there would have been forbidden in the management agreement as representing a fire hazard

We aren’t allowed to leave buggies in communal hall due to fire risk so same would apply to bikes!

@Lifeisverylongwhenyourelonely

Yes I'm aware , that's not really helpful though. I'm more looking for advice about what I can do next

Report the theft to the police and your insurance?

Although insurance probably won't pay out because of where you left it.

Report to the po

Look on gumtree

Stick it on Twitter stolen bike pages

Get a new bike but get insurance this time