What prevents someone from registering someone else's bike and then claiming it was stolen from them?
I suppose one way would be to require a photo of the bike and only consider photos of a bike without a lock to be valid.
The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
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Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#32What prevents someone from registering someone else's bike and then claiming it was stolen from them? I suppose one way would be to require a photo of the bike and only consider photos of a bike without a lock to be valid.
Surely those stealing it will be able to remove the lock afterwards to register it and post a photo w/o a lock. If it is already registered, it wouldn't matter in any case.
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#33What prevents someone from registering someone else's bike and then claiming it was stolen from them? I suppose one way would be to require a photo of the bike and only consider photos of a bike without a lock to be valid.
Register your bike before someone else does!
These are properly aligned incentives.
Also, investigation can turn up purchase date payment records (receipt, credit card) owners manuals, eyewitness reports, etc
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wouldn't think many people would consult a registry in order to assure themselves that the bike they're buying isn't stolen; rather, they'd use it to find a bike they already owned and that had subsequently been stolen, as a means to try and find it. I suppose a Pawn shop or similar would use it for a purpose as you suggest, though.
Why would a thief register his stolen bike online after the fact? I think you've got this mixed up, these registries only work when people consult them before buying.
No, dealers consult the registry when required by law, and police consult the registry when they recover a bike.
Most buyers don't care, they have no incentive to care.
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#35The police SHOULD be able to catch bike thieves like shooting fish in a barrel. If the same person on craigslist is selling more than 5 bikes and they are selling them off racks at colleges and train stations, they probably have a pickup truck with out of state plates full of stolen bikes stashed nearby. It's appalling that such a dead simple MO can't be crushed in a week.
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#36This looks like a really cool project.
You can also contribute code here https://github.com/bikeindex/bike_index
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#37I see why I might register my bike - in case its lost or stolen. But why would anyone look up a bike in there? Either its not in there - time wasted. Or it is - there goes your sale. Net value: zero or negative.
If someone tries to sell you a poorly maintained, old, high-mileage, multi-owner bike on Craigslist and they are not selling it out of their home, it's stolen.
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#38What prevents someone from registering someone else's bike and then claiming it was stolen from them? I suppose one way would be to require a photo of the bike and only consider photos of a bike without a lock to be valid.
I just signed up, and my post-registration call to actions includes "Visit where to register to find the closest shop to register your bikes."
Looks like you can't just register a bike on your own.
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#39This looks like a really cool project. You can also contribute code here https://github.com/bikeindex/bike_index
Thanks!
Re: The largest and most effective bicycle registry ever
#40What is the purpose of a bike registry?
Some people own bikes that have value... and would like to track them in case they get stolen. Be it for insurance purposes, trying to recover it, or as a buyer to not buy a stolen bike.