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Where do stolen bikes go?

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Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#51

Post by blamazon »

denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

> My anecdote appears to confirm that bikes stolen in Oxford don't stay in Oxford.

I've never been to Oxford but I'm guessing it has a lower density of bicycles per square meter than Amsterdam. Presumably it's easier for stolen bikes to 'blend in' in Amsterdam?

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#52

Post by maximinus_thrax »

denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

> They weren't interested - they told me to contact West Midlands police. So I rang them. No, they were not going to investigate: "Don't you realize how many Porsches are stolen in this city every day?" Also, they said they can't just walk in and have a look around (I guess they need a warrant, which is fair enough; but then why not get a warrant?)

I've seen/heard this numerous times. Cops really don't give a shit about theft unless it's from a business. But I wonder if you could just sue the homeowner for the bike in small claims court. Do you have something like that in your jurisdiction? I mean you can prove they're in possession of your property. Nothing criminal, just have a judge order them to at least compensate you for the bike.

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#53

Post by p1esk »

spiritplumber wrote: post #46

I caught a guy stealing a neighbor's bike and told him "Why don't we do this instead, I give you mine, and you never return because if you do I'll fry your eyeballs with an industrial laser", he took it, and I got an excuse to buy a new bike. (Not actually an industrial laser)

I can't imagine the situation you described. Was he just standing there having a conversation with you?

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#54

Post by [deleted] »

at-fates-hands wrote: post #19
seanmcdirmid wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Seattle, high end bikes are targeted to be disassembled for components. The components can then easily be fenced for drug money.

I remember my co-worker at the bike shop talking about this and how people in the area will sand their frames down and remove labels and anything else that would give their bike a look and feel of being expensive. Even adding duct and black electrical tape to ward off thieves from going after their bikes.

[deleted]

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#55

Post by _Wintermute »

londons_explore wrote: post #49
denton-scratch wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I saw a decent bike a while back that had had newspaper glued all over the frame.

Write your phone number all over every part in permanent marker. Nobody will buy something covered in phone numbers without at least calling the number. The thief can't be bothered to repaint the whole bike to cover it. Hence, the bike is now worthless to a thief, so it won't get stolen.

I doubt that would deter them, they'll either spray-paint the frame it it's a cheap bike, or just strip it for parts if it's high-end.

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#56

Post by denton-scratch »

maximinus_thrax wrote: post #52
denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

> They weren't interested - they told me to contact West Midlands police. So I rang them. No, they were not going to investigate: "Don't you realize how many Porsches are stolen in this city every day?" Also, they said they can't just walk in and have a look around (I guess they need a warrant, which is fair enough; but then why not get a warrant?) I've seen/heard this numerous times. Cops really don't give a shit ab…

> I mean you can prove they're in possession of your property.

To be pedantic, I can only prove they're in possession of the GPS tracker. That cost about £250.

Yes, we have small claims. I think it costs about £50. I'd love to have (partially) got my own back; but I was very much conscious that these people might not be very nice people, and they knew where I lived.

I could have hired thieves to steal it back, I suppose; but I don't know any thieves that I trust (nor that I don't trust!)

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#57

Post by dazc »

forinti wrote: post #50
denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

So at what value do they start to consider doing their job?

It isn't about the value of property, it's about the effort required and chances of improving future career prospects. Recovering stolen bikes is, therefore, very low priority.

I had a similar experience where I followed a bike thief to his home, again police not interested.

Police forces in the UK have various campaigns where they will, for example, spend a month targeting a particular crime or social nuisance. With much fanfare press releases will be issued about how many people were charged with not wearing a seatbelt whilst driving, for example, and for the rest of the year not wearing a seatbelt will be relegated back to being ignored again.

The default excuse for this behaviour is lack of resources due to Govt cutbacks, which sounds fair until something interesting happens and suddenly 1000 police cars appear from nowhere.

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#58

Post by baremetal »

nerdponx wrote: post #48
denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

Good reminder that the assertion "police exist to protect private property" is incomplete. They protect certain private property, but in general not your private property.

Also: you are not allowed to protect your own property. Call the police instead.

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#59

Post by mrexroad »

Cieplak wrote: post #8

If one's bike is stolen in the San Francisco Bay Area, there's a small but significant chance you can find it for sale at the Laney College Flea Market (e.g. [1]). [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/BAbike/comments/8mmrne/stolen_bike_...

Bay Area here. Kid’s bike was stolen from driveway (lock clipped) and I found it online a few hours later. I called police non-emergency line and told them I had already set up a meeting to “buy it”; they offered to assist if an officer was available, and I brought a “tough” buddy in case not. Thief had a much bigger buddy hanging out ~50’ away (cop recognized them immediately). In the end: officer showed up, perp got arrested, and my kid got their bike back.

Re: Where do stolen bikes go?

#60

Post by denton-scratch »

blamazon wrote: post #51
denton-scratch wrote: post #30

I had a £2,000 electric bike stolen in Oxford. No worries - it had a GPS tracker, and I could see it heading to Birmingham up the M40. Also, my neighbour had CCTV footage. You couldn't make out the faces or number-plate, but you could see it was a black Mercedes. It was taken at about 3AM. So they had "liberated" the bike (it was locked up), and immediately headed out of town. I'm sure it was scouted, then they came…

> My anecdote appears to confirm that bikes stolen in Oxford don't stay in Oxford. I've never been to Oxford but I'm guessing it has a lower density of bicycles per square meter than Amsterdam. Presumably it's easier for stolen bikes to 'blend in' in Amsterdam?

Oxford is a cycle city. Unlike Amsterdam, it has very poor cycle infrastructure; roads are narrow, and can't be widened because of preserved ancient buildings. There are more and more restrictions on ICE traffic, including ZEZs and LTNs. I don't drive, but it is definitely hard to get around in a car.

There are two universities, and countless EFL schools and other schools; and students visiting Oxford are strongly discouraged from bringing cars. The universities have about 60,000 students between them (in a town whose permanent population is 140,000).

So Oxford has a LOT of bikes.

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