Please could someone point me towards that recent thread where people discussed getting bikes back once they've been stolen and advertised on Gumtree? (I've tried searching, but I think it must be one of those threads that started off on a completely different topic.)

A friend's just found an ad for his recently stolen bike, and we're trying to work out how to get it back...

My short unofficial version:
The police won't do much (ostensibly due to requiring a risk assesment..)
Arrange to meet the seller and confront them with the crime reference number.
Take the bike... if they argue, call the police.
Good luck!

take a few big male friends along too.

Take a few friends..




Snap.

Try taking a few big guns along too.

Get a gang of your mates to go and take it back.

Be careful and be strategic. Arrange to meet in a very public place.

Report the add to the Gumtree site admins and recommend that his IP gets blocked.

Peace

kick him in the balls and run. (or hopefully ride)

try at least 5 plus mates, the more mates the better, better to do it safety really.

bring a photo of your bike for further evidence, ask him question about the bike that only you know (either way the 'seller' may not know even the saddle make).

Pretty much what I told him (except for the big guns bit). Good idea about waving the crime ref number at them though.

He's calling the seller now, and we're going to try and round up a gang of heavies. Unfortunately most of the people we know are all thespy and effeminate! Perhaps I'll wear my moustache...

effeminate guys are especially good at kicking the proverbial balls.

Unfortunately it's a pretty standard Brompton, though the spec matches exactly. (I have warned him that about 3,658 Bromptons get stolen and sold in London every day, and that this is almost definitely stolen, but might not be his - but he seems convinced. Anyway, he's got his name written all over it in UV and visible permanent marker, so it shouldn't be that hard to identify.)

Isn't the whole point of having a Brompton to be able to fold it up and take it with you, thereby eliminating the possibility of theft?

I'd offer to help you with the retrieval, except nobody would regard me as much of a threat...

If I had a Brompton I'd be delighted to be relieved of it.

pretty much the same reason I gave my girlfriend before she got one.

sound like someone broke in the house and stolen the Brompton? thought even with the folding capacity, some people still lock them up outside their workplace since they can't be bothered dragging the heavy bugger upstair to their desktop.

This is what I have been trying not to say all along! (It would probably be considered insensitive.) He locked it up on the South Bank, went to have a drink, and when he came back it was gone.

I spoke to him earlier, and he's more-or-less decided just to let it go, and get a new one on the insurance. Which is a shame, because I've always wanted a chance to get one over on the bike thieves!

Tell us what happens Emilia, this is almost as exciting as the bike that got locked.

(although you can fold up your Brompton and carry it with you, it must be very cumbersome. What if you go to the bar, leave your Brompton by the table and someone just walks away with it?)

Lock it properly, keep an eye on it, and if you can't do the both, go home or travel to such occasions with a bike that is un-theft-worthy or you don't mind (too much) having stolen.

On a Brompton there are two plainly viewable serial numbers engraved by the factory on both the main frame and the folding swing-arm.
Pity your friend didn't take these down, (irrefutable proof of ownership) and pity they didn't chase down the (their) potentially stolen bike.

is that a real pic on your avatar then?

But in that situation, one ought to look after their Brompton as if they were looking after a handbag or a backpack...

can i come and help:)

yeah, bring that D-lock to bang them over the head with ;)

I try to avoid confrontation, but ironically the last time I nearly got into a scrap was with a massive bunch of cyclists in the Old Blue Last. They were hammered and one spilt beer on me, when I said in an ever-so-polite way "watch yerself pal", he took issue. Had to escape out of the back door as he massed his drunk cycling troops for a beating. They were clearly up for a barney, didn't understand the concept of pubs being a place of gaiety.

Will do!

We always tend to blame the person who got their property stolen for not looking after it properly. To me it is the person who stole who is at fault, not the victim.

you do know we live in london and not some fairy land?!

Dogs I've lived in London for 20 years.

Besides where is the freedom in having a bike if you have to carry massive locks, keep an eye on it, deny yourself of going to places cos the chances of it of being stolen are massive and if it is, it is because you are stupid...

That is the nature of London, if you know that there are thieves out and about you are remiss in not being extra diligent.
There is no such thing as freedom.

Can we claim to be the bike crime capital of the world?

Quite funny I heard that a guy at work stole a bike that he fancied in the garage. He was caught on CCTV, confronted, sacked and escorted out of the building....

Of course I agree with all of you that London is like that and you have to be careful with your bike. I have spent a fair amount of money on locks and insurance. But blaming the person who lost their stuff is not right.

He did take down the details, along with photos, etc., and had his name written all over the bike, both visibly and in UV. He's going to report the Gumtree post to the police (who will of course do fuck all) and see if they're interested in following it up (hah!).

But yes, I'm rather annoyed he decided not to chase it down with a gang of heavies brandishing D-locks. When the next one gets stolen, in about six months, I shall be a lot more insistent. Who's in?

I think we should put together a Bike retrieval posse, composed of a few of the bigger lads and angrier girls who are willing to form the back up crew in these situations. I could quite happily lead a shoreditch chapter, think hells angels but on bikes I wouldn't want to nick a harley from them - we could even get matching messenger bags with patches for how many bikes we manage to get back.

Once a stolen bike surfaces on gumtree and the owner has identified it and has some proof of ownership, the posse would accompany him/her to get the bike back with the additonal strength in numbers being an obvious benefit. I think payment in pints for the service would be an excellent recompense.

I think once the scum who nick our bikes know that selling stolen bikes on gumtree will result in a visit from the bike angels and the loss of drug money for them it should close down their sales channel. Anyone know where we can buy stab vests?

I think the posse should also include backup undercover agents who aren't part of the main retrieval team, and is in charge of following the thieves to their lair, wherever it may be, in case the initial offensive doesn't go as planned.