I Found An Expensive Mountain Bike…

[Gromit]

So I have attempted to report it to the Police.

1. Dialled 101. No reply. After 20 minutes gave up.
2. Dialled my local Police station, answering machine says they do not monitor it at weekends.
3. Dialled station this morning. A polite lady says their system won’t let them check if any bicycles have been stolen. They didn’t want my name and contact details or make and model of bike or where I had found it. Told me to use the Live Chat facility on GM Police website.
4. They said I should post it on Facebook. When I said I am not on Facebook, they said it is easy to join. I ignored that and asked if any bicycles had been reported stolen in my area? Apparently it is impossible to check, and said again to use social media.
5. Walked into town and nobbled a PCSO and told them. They took no notes and told me to ring 101.
6. Rang 101. No reply.

So someone somewhere has had their £500 bike nicked and the Police aren’t at all interested in solving the crime.

[davebro]

I would just hand it in at the station. If the owner goes there they can get it back or it will go into a police sale if not claimed.

You have no evidence of it being stolen.

[Gromit]

davebro

Yes, near new bikes are often abandoned by their owners. Same thing with cars.

[rowanwitch]

It may have been dumped so the owner can claim the insurance towards an upgrade. Found a high spec bike some years ago, and was able to trace the owner through the shop that had built it. The owner just said keep it, and say nothing.Housemate and I took it to the police station, gave our names and address then after the required period went back and claimed it. That way we could sell it without risk of comeback.

[barry1010]

The police no longer accept found property with few exceptions. It's been that way for at least two years.

See if it has been reported stolen here:
https://www.bikeregister.com/bike-checker

[ToraToraTora]

Gromit, the old bill now spend most of their time trawling twitface in case someone has an unapproved view of something, or they use a prohibited word of phrase. No time for any proper coppering any more. Thank your LibFac buddies.

[barry1010]

But the GMP website tells you take it to the police station
https://www.gmp.police.uk/ro/report/lp/lost-or-found-property/found-high-value-item/?lid=&cid=&rid=5&;stepid=1-2-2-1

So do that

[davebro]

I'm not saying it wasn't stolen - just that you have no evidence that it was - i.e. that it was reported as stolen or someone was seen stealing it. Even if someone did take it without permission unless they kept it or sold it there is nothing to say that their intention was to permanently deprive the real owner - which is a definition of theft.

Someone taking a car for a joy ride & abandoning it would more likely be charged with "taking without consent" rather than "theft of a motor vehicle". Dunno if the same applies to bikes.

[mallyh]

have you got a chat forum where you live

[bednobs]

why didnt you just leave it where it was? unless it was dumped in your forecourt

[Gromit]

https://ibb.co/w6Ggh7C

[Gromit]

bednobs

If I had my bike stolen I would hope that anyone finding it would tell the police, and I would get my bike back.

[Canary42]

Because the Police Force doesn't return a profit, the Tory Toffs have reduced the numbers to such an extent that it is no longer effective.

[dannyk13]

Barry maybe Greater Manchester Police accept found property but the majority of police forces don't.

[bednobs]

perhaps they had just left it there temporarily and now YOU are the thief?? :)

[bednobs]

actually, you may not of course have taken it, sorry!

[aelmpvw]

^ yes, pc49 is wondering who the cheeky beggar was that nicked his bike . . .

[Gromit]

dannyk13

Greater Manchester Police don’t. They refer to valuable found property as ‘abandoned’.

[dannyk13]

Barry,
https://news.sky.com/story/43-police-forces-in-england-and-wales-to-stop-dealing-with-lost-property-11513918

[dannyk13]

Gromit, I suggest that you read Barry's link, although I don't know the date of origin.

[ladybirder]

Gromit are you familiar with Nextdoor.com? If not check it out, find your area and put it on there, obviously without giving all away to avoid chancers.