suspicious bikes

[EigerSA]

But that's exactly how cops catch people and recover stolen property. How else would you think it's done? The object gets taken to police and logged into an evidence register. If you can prove it's yours, then you go fetch the object, if you can't then the bike gets held until an owner pitches up or till auction.

[Mojoman]

With ownership, I think make a note of the serial numbers under the BB. You could also make note of any defining scratches, bumps, stickers, marks etc.

[chris_w_65]

But that's exactly how cops catch people and recover stolen property. How else would you think it's done? The object gets taken to police and logged into an evidence register. If you can prove it's yours, then you go fetch the object, if you can't then the bike gets held until an owner pitches up or till auction.

 

So the cops can just take my second hand Specialized and keep it if I can't prove ownership? That is a bummer

[chris_w_65]

So the cops can just take my second hand Specialized and keep it if I can't prove ownership? That is a bummer

 

In fact, they can take everything I have in my house. I doubt I could reclaim it from them as I don't have proof of ownership for anything

 

Ok, car and motorcycle I can prove ownership

Edited December 30, 2010 by chris_w_65

[EigerSA]

So the cops can just take my second hand Specialized and keep it if I can't prove ownership? That is a bummer

 

Not really, since you could tell the cops how much the bike cost you, who/where you bought it from, the friends you rode with etc etc.... which they could quite easily confirm, that's definitely no issue there. Out of interest, insurance generally wont pay out unless you can prove ownership as well, so take a picture of your bike as well as identifying marks.

 

But if you tell the cops I got it from a "friend" and couldn't remember the "friend" or where or when or how much, then you got a problem.

 

And keep in mind that they cops may not know the value of bikes, but they pretty good at reading people, it's easy to spot when a guy's dodgy or when something's not quite right. They'll help if you approach them.

[chris_w_65]

Not really, since you could tell the cops how much the bike cost you, who/where you bought it from, the friends you rode with etc etc.... which they could quite easily confirm, that's definitely no issue there. Out of interest, insurance generally wont pay out unless you can prove ownership as well, so take a picture of your bike as well as identifying marks.

 

But if you tell the cops I got it from a "friend" and couldn't remember the "friend" or where or when or how much, then you got a problem.

 

And keep in mind that they cops may not know the value of bikes, but they pretty good at reading people, it's easy to spot when a guy's dodgy or when something's not quite right. They'll help if you approach them.

 

I took photos of the BB on my bikes and as I say, the owner of the bike shop can confirm I bought them

 

I agree, they should be able to tell if someone is dodgy but it would be hard for the cops to prove their point without using the serial number as evidence from a known theft. I am sure there are people out there that report their bikes missing but didn't make a note of the serial.

 

A little off topic, I would never confront a suspicious person on a bike even if it was mine. Is it worth getting shot or stabbed when you have already been paid by insurance or over someone you don't knows bike that has probably been paid out?

[Starvin' Marvin]

If a cop stopped one of you Hubbers out on a ride with your expensive bike could you prove ownership on the spot? I doubt it. Even if the cop came home with me I couldn't prove ownership, we would have to go to the bike shop and the owner could confirm that I bought it brand new. If it was a second hand bike then I expect proving ownership would be impossible.

 

I think it would be up to the cops to prove that it was not the cyclists bike and to do that they would have to link the bike to an existing police docket.

 

Not on the spot, but come to my house. Will give reciept, insurance details etc. Very easy to prove it's mine.

[Gravity]

instead of saying "nice bike" say, hey thats MY bike.

Watch him drop and run.

 

Problem solved.

[An3]

Saw a "commuter" walking next to the road with an Easton Front Wheel and tyre in his hands. Looked wrong. Maybe he just got it back from LBS......

[chris_w_65]

Not on the spot, but come to my house. Will give reciept, insurance details etc. Very easy to prove it's mine.

 

I can prove my bike is insured but that doesn't prove it is mine. Also my insurance doesn't ask for serial numbers up front, in the event of a claim I expect they would ask for the serial number but if it was a stolen bike I had insured I could always say I never made a note of it and it is too late now.

[mark ellis]

This guy and his s works has been doing the rounds in a few threads on this topic, haha wish he knew We were all so concerned about him! Wonder if it is the same guy each time